Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-08
he WOULD NOT ARBITRATE
WOULD NOT ALLOW HIS COM.
PANIEs TO HOLD CONFER
ENcE WITH UNION MEN
PLENTY OF AID PROMISED
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF
COAL DIecERs WILL HELP
TRINIDAD WoRKMEN

Indianapolis, Ind, May 'S.@John D.
Rockefeller Jr., could have prevented
loss of life in Colorado by favoring a
settlement of the coal strike through
a meeting of operators and miners,
according to a statement issued today
by the international executive board
of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, in session here. The statement
also declares There can be no turn
ing back or turning aside. The sacri-
fees already made are too great"
The statement reviews the strike
and continues:
I'VE deplore the loss of life, acts of
violence and destruction of proper
which have taken place. We are for
peace and the establishment of right
relations between employers and en-
ployes. We have exercised our eff
forts at all times toward righteous
dealings
The miners asked for conference
time after time, it is stated, and quit
work only after they had been refus-
ed a hearing.
"Ninetyzfive per cent, Of all. the men
employed ceased work and are still
idle" the statement asserts. THE
statement widely circulated by the
coal operators representatives that
ten per cent of their employees were
attempting to force 80 per cent of
their employees to join in the strike
activities is absurd and false.
The small number of employees are
Mexicans, Japanese and incompetent
strikebreakers."
"a long list of prosecutions culmi-
mated in the massacre of Ludlow on
April 20. The brutality of the gunner
seemed at that time to have reached
it's climax. After the battle was over
IL citizens, children ranging in age
from six months to 10 years, and two
women, whose bodies were blackened
and burned, were taken from the
smoking ruins of theira destroyed
homes. The state of Colorado was
covered with shame, while the whole
nation looked on with awe. No fouler
crime or more brutal deed was ever
recorded on the pages of American
history. I-ifh-i~+s,i
This Is an awful sacrifiaaIoall Of
which could have been avoidedfif John
D. Rockefeller, Jr, VINO occupies such
a powerful position in the financial
world would have spoken one word,
favoring settlement through meet
ing between the representatives OF
the coal companies and the repre-
sentatives of the striking employees.
And row shall this battle Of extermi-
nation go on? 1t is no longer strug-
gle for social justice, but instead the
humble miners in Colorado are fight
ing the battle Of the common people
against the powerful corporations as
sociated with John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Shall these powerful interests
crush and destroy the hopes. ambi-
tions and aspirations of these striking
miners and their families? The an
swer must be mo- There can be no
! turning back or turning aside. The
sacrifices already made are too great,
The slaughter of innocent people de-
mands from US our fullest measure
of devotion.
with resolute purpose and firm
determination the United Mine Work
ers of America hereby pledge them
lselves to support the mine workers ir
Colorado and aid them as long as the
contest goes on, even thought it lasts
for period of ten years. unti' =
rights are recognized and an honor
able wage settlement brought about.
I'VE pledge to them the support O
the international organization ant
hereby solemnly declare our unyield
ing purpose to supply them with q
nancial help, and moral sup. port, unit