The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1914-12-24
COAL WORKERS
DENIED JUSTICE

IN report to the commission on
church and social service or the Fed.
eral Council Of the Churches Of chr,st
In America, made public recently tbe
Rev. Henry A. Atkinson. associate SOC.
retary. attacks the Colorado coal com
panies for their attitude toward tba
labor troubles in that state. The Fed
eral council represents thirty-one evan
gelical denominations.
Mr.. Atkinson was sent ~ co,o.oa..
and also to the copper mining districts
Of Michigan. where there we're indus.
trial difficulties. by the social service
commission Of the Congrerat,on.,
churches and the commission Of tbe
Council Of Churches. After reviewin.,
the trouble in Colorado his report SAYS.
The coal companies dominate The
politics in those counties where the
mines are located. They have brouyh
about the election of the judges. sher.
MS. coroners and assessors. They can
DO about as they please SO far as tba
law Is concerned. A mass Of evidence
was brought out to show that thev
control the political. social and eco.
nomic situation. Jefferson Farr. sheriff
OF Huerfano county, has been in Office
Tor fifteen years. He is known as the
king of Huerfano county What no
says goes. as one of his admirers put
II TO me 1t is not what he SAYS. how.
ever. but what the coal companies saw
Ihese companies have procured his
election as well as that Of other Off
GERS, and they control them.
1t Is impossible to enforce the law
and the courts are practically closed RI
those who in any way incur the enmity
OF the coal companies; thus economic
Justice is denied the men through tbe
manipulation of political affairs. Thirty
years Of such oppression, Industrial
sociai and political. have taught the
miners that their only hope is in the
unions. An individual counts for moth.
Ing; If he protests he loses his Job: If
ne makes too much trouble he Is dealt
with by hired gun men, who are kent
at the mines to do the viii Of the com
panies and help enforce the law against
the workers"
OF the actions Of the militia. Mr.
Atkinson says:
Ihe soldiers We're received gladly
by the strikers. for they expected they
would have some protection. but their
hopes We're in vain. 1t soon became I
evident that the militia was under the
control of the coal companies. Men
and women were thrown into Jail with
out anyschurge being lodged against
them and held inconunicndo.
The constitution Of the state was
set aside, The militia met ana escorted
strike breakers who were brought INFO
the state The militia instead of aim
ing to maintain order and secure ius
tice, was used TO break the strike
Special attack was made upon the Lud-
low colony. 1t being the largest in the
district There were 800 persons living
there: 272 Of them children. twenty one 4
having been born during the winter
There were twenty one Municipalities
md yet they lived in peace. 1t was this
colony against which the militia. IN
,luding the mine guards. directed their
Ire. a number of the inhabitants were
lilled and the tents were destroyed by
ire.
In the investigation following the
Ludlow battle it was shown that many
If the militia who were receiving pay
rom the state were at the same time
n the employ of the coal companies us
guards; thus they We're receiving dou- :
de pay. They were really employees :
II the company fighting in the name of
he state"
In reviewing the conditions the re
lort says:
NO amount of welfare work. how
'yer admirable 1t may be. will take the
'lace of fair wages and right condi
ions of labor But the churches are
opposed to violence no matter what the
revocation Such tactics reflect upon
he workers themselves
The right of workmen to organize
las been and is being denied by the
n-Amerlcan and un-Christian attitude
+ the mine operators. who thus de.
rive their employees of an essential
means Of self defense, the right to bar
ain collectively for their labor.
in connection with these strikes one
the most pressing questions is that
f the ownership and the control of the
took We call upon our united churches
D study in the light of the ethics OF
esus the question OF such absentee
and the responsibility grow
* out OF It"