Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-28
Asks Financier to End the
Coal Strike War Raging
in Western State
FEDERAL TROOPS
MAY BE REQUIRED
Battle Between Militia and
Miners Has Already
Cost Many Lives

New York, April 27.-John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., told Congressman
Martin D. Foster, chairman of the
house committee on mines and
mining today, that he (Mr. Rookie
feIler) was In no position to arb-
trate the labor troubles in the
Colorado coal fields.
Washington, D. c., April 27.-Presi-
dent Wilson has made personal ap-
peal to John d. Rockefeller to bring
about settlement of the Colorado
coal strike and end the violence which
has cost score of lives and large
property loss.
The great financier who owns a
large part of the mines affected by
the strike, in response to a telegram
from the president, declared he had
turned over his interests in Colorado
to his son, John d. Rockefeller, Jr.,
whom he would ask to cooperate with
Chairman Foster of the house commit
tee on mines and mining. The presi-
dent sent Mr. Foster to New York to-
day to talk with the younger Rockefel-
ler
Upon the outcome OF the conference
depends whether the federal troops,
which have been asked for by all sides
of the controversy will be sent to the
strike zone. Recently the younger
Rockefeller at hearing of the mine
committee of the house said mine own
ers would fight to the end, even though
they lost all they had invested in Colo
RADIO. Since then the conflict has ragged
with all the horrors of actual warfare
The president, cabinet officers, sena-
tors and congressman have been food
ed with kilograms describing the most
grewsome happenings and terrible
scenes.
Nothing has happened in Mexico
said a cabinet official today, compared
with the awful things that have oc-
Cured in Colorado. The public mind
has for the moment been centered on
Mexico and has not observed the great
domestic struggle between the strike
breakers and the miners and the
militia in Colorado"
Miners Are Waiting.
Denver, Colo, April 27-With no out
breaks reported but with the situation
tense in Las Animas, Huerfano and
Fremont counties coal districts, all
parties concerned In the Colorado coal
strike today anxiously awaited Presi-
dent Wilson's reply to the appeal for
federal troops.
General John Chase with 200 militia
men reached Canon City today, made a
tour of the surrounding territory and
reported conditions quiet. The 100
citizens who last night patrolled the
town and territory to the south and
east were induced to surrender their
arms to the sheriff, leaving further
protective measures to the militia.
Today's advices were that no fight
ing had occurred at the Royal Gorge
mine, two and half miles from Canon
City. and that the strikers were still
in possession OF the Chandler mine
where there has been no serious prop
erty damage so far as known.
The governor stated that he would
make demand on the strikers to give
up the Chandler mine.
There was some firing during the
night at Sopris In Las Animas county
but no casualties were reported.
Rockefeller investigates.
New York, April 27-John D. Rookie.
feller, Jr., his personal attorney, Starr
j. Murphy and Congressman Martin D..
Foster chairman Of the house commit
tee on mines and mining, were closeted
today in Mr.. Rockefeller's private Of
flee discussing President Wilson's
personal appeal to Mr.. Rockefeller to
bring about settlement Of the Colo
RADIO coal strike.
The conference was held in the Stan
dard Oil building and after 1t had been
lin progress more than an hour IT was
announced that statement defining
l.Mr Rockefeller's attitude would be
issued later today.
1t was said for Mr.. Rockefeller that
he intended to go into the matter
Thoroughly and to make himself ia
miliar with all phases of the trouble
in -he Colorado mine disaster which
has cost many lives.