United labor bulletin., 1914-11-14
Gombers Presents Colorado War :
Conditions to A. F. of L. Meeting
Reue of the Struggle Being Made by Coal Miners for Freedom
and Inauguration of Humane Conditions of Labor Is
Stated a Most Convincing Manner

|
and have opportunity, the right to be
something more than one OF the ele-
ments OF production. The Colorado
hearings before the House committee
educed specific evidence that the min
ers' grievances were based upon true
charges. 1t is most significant that
some of the conditions which they de-
mand are rights guaranteed them by
the laws of Colorado. Openly it is rec
ognized that the operators have lawless-
ly disregarded statutes and administra.
tive regulations, yet no effort has been
made to punish these violations. The
grand jury that indicted officials OF the
miners organization for conspiracy to
organize unions condemned the compa-
nies for their illegal acts, but made no
effort to establish equality before the
law.
| After the investigating committee left
Colorado to continue its hearing in
Washington the burning of Ludlow took
place. This was the crowning atrocity
of the war. The corpora ton militia
opened fire upon defenseless women and
children crowded in their tents of
refuge and then burned the tents. Men.
women and children We're shot; women
and helpless children We're smothered
and roasted in the pits where they crept
]
dy touched the hearts and the con-
sciences OF the nation, but it did not
cause the coal operators to waver in
their grim purpose. 1t aroused the min
J crs to desperation.
Rockefeller's Unfair Assumption.
Meanwhile federal effort was made
! to bring those in control of the coal
companies to some understanding of the
relation between the struggle and
human welfare. John d. Rockefeller.
Jr., was called before the committee to
state his position, His testimony dis
closed to the nation a terrible. ruthless
fiXedness of purpose, Indifference to
public opinion, calm assurance of per.
sonal correctness and infallibility that
constituted an irrefutable proof of the
charge that the policy of the Colorado
coal operators was inhumanly indiffer-
ent to the interests of their employees
and totally unable to understand what
things constituted their welfare and Sc
cured them freedom OF action. The sue
cess OF the Rockefellers has been due to
ruthless, uncontrolled individualism
They ignore the fact that industry can
not be conducted by the employer alone
They ignore the fact that wealth is
produced by the labor OF human beings
and augmented by associated effort
They fail to understand the value of
productive toll They value only skill
i'll manipulation that enables an indi-
vidual to gain control over resources of
power. They have interposed their will
and their standards against the de-
mands and the convictions of their en-
ployes; against the proposals OF
state, of the House OF Representatives,
and finally against the appeals and pro-
posals of the President OF the American
people. Upon the Rockefellers and those
who submit to their dictates rests the
responsibility OF prolonging the Colo
RADIO strike. Rockefeller asserted that he
would lose every cent invested in Colo
RADIO rather than agree that the miners
should have recognized representatives
to present their views and grievances
and to agree upon terms of work
Wilson Responds to Public Appeal.
Lest wrongs long unrequited should
result i'll even greater tragedy and bring
even. greater disgrace upon the supine
government Of Colorado, the President
of the United States sent federal troops
into Colorado. Before the troops were
sent President Wilson sent personal
representative TO Mr.. Rockefeller to
make last appeal. Mr.. Rockefeller re-
iterated with finality his position be-
fore the House committce-the ''princi-
pie" which he would nor submit to arbi-
tration was the right OF the miners to
organize.
Experience in all OF the large indus
tries as well as in the coal fields of the
world has proved that the greatest de-
! gree OF industrial peace can result only
Z through collective bargaining This ex-
perience Mr.. Rockefeller rejected and as
| sumed responsibility for prolonging the
struggle.
| President Wilson sent troops into Col.
orado to protect life and property His
instructions We're that the troops should
give impartial protection and should not
be used ms guards for strikebreakcrs
President Wilson stipulated that the
employers should not induce strike
| breakers to come to Colorado and should
employ only those who We're citizens OF
| Colorado. The troops were sent into the
| state last spring and have been retained
there since. Meanwhile the President
/ sent two commissioners of Cancellation
to Colorado to investigate and to re-
port basis of settlement. These two
commissioners, w. r. Farley of the
United Mine Workers organization and
Hywel Davies, former president of the
kentucky association of coal operators
proposed terms as basis for settle
ment.
Despotism Under Guise of Industry.
The full text of the recommendations
was sent to the officials of the mining
companies and the United Mine Work.
ers with letter from the President
urging the adoption of the agreement
for three years. truce
A convention of the miners accepted
the peace proposal. The mine operators
asked for a special conference with
President Wilson at which they urged
the modification of the provisions which
established grievance committees pro-