United labor bulletin., 1914-11-14

I
Gompers made reference to industrial
condition in this state as follows:
In Colorado the same feudal condi-
tions prevail in the coal mining fields
as prevail in West Virginia. The min
ing companies owned all the dwellings |;
caused county commissioners to vacate
parts of roads in their favor; required
passes OF those using public highways;
controlled stores, churches and schools,
and maintained their regulations by use
of mine guards. The mine operators
policies have been dominated by the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, which
is controlled by the Standard Oil Com
pany. There, too, all the organized
agencies of the state were subservient
to the corporations. The laws of the
state affecting miners were broken with
cynical disregard. The miners must re-
ly for protection upon their own organ
lied effort. The mine operators had re-
fused them the right of organization.
Several times the miners entered upon
struggles for better conditions. Last
year they again made demands upon
their employers. The demands included
an eighthour workday for all men en-
ployed in the mines; the right to EN-.
ploy checkweighmen; the right to be.
long to a labor union; abolition of the
truck store and script system; a semi
monthly pay day; a 10 per cent in
crease in wages. and the abolition OF
the vicious guard system. The compa-
nies peremptorily refused to grant these
terms and have declared at all times
that they would not make any agree,
ment with employees upon the terms of
collective bargaining. They prepared
their lands and their employees for pri-
vate warfare, employed additional gun
men and entered upon the contest with
lands fortified and patrolled. Strike
breakers were imported They were
herded and watched by the gunner.
Militia at Service of Operators.
Civil authority in Colorado broke
down under the contest that ensued.
The state militia was put at the service
of the coal companies. The striking min
ers driven from their homes collected in
camps to endure the long siege. Brutal
ity, coercion, bloodshed followed.
These industrial struggles in the coal
fields are most vigorous illustrations of
great menace to industrial justice and
peace The detective agencies have made
of the gunmen's work specialized oc-
cupation. or profession. The nature OF
the work attracts a daring, adventure
some lawless class of rovers who fol-
lowed some of the predatory methods
of gaining livelihood. The men are
shipped from one state to another
whenever corporations may have need
of their services. Secretary Wilson of
the United States department of labor
called attention to this serious danger
in his first annual report.
Nothing was done by the employers
to settle the contested industrial issues.
The miners stood unequivocally for the
right of collective bargaining-the right
that secures to the workers real indus
trial freedom. The coal operators,
through their gunmen, inaugurated
reign of terror--the miners and their
families were constantly menaced by
bullets from mine guards and the
armored automobile. The state authori
ties did or could do nothing. The in
fluence of the Rockefellers was as po-
tent there as in the determination of
the operators to deny the right Of or
ganization.
Urged Federal Investigation.
Investigators and mediators from the
United States department of labor tried
to bring about conciliation OF con-
flicting interests. But the companies
determinedly refused to consider any
settlement that would accord the min
ers recognized, established method Of
participating in the determination OF
wages and conditions Of work; they
We're determined to keep their employees
useful by refusing them all redress
of grievances.
Only an official investigation could
get the facts about conditions in Colo
RADIO and Michigan before the public.
Congressional action was necessary to
authorize such an investigation.
At our January meeting G. L. Ma
honey of the Western Federation of
Miners; w. d. Mahon. president of the
Amalgamation Association OF Street and
Electric Railway Employees; John ii.
Walker, president OF the Illinois State
Federation of Labor, and Claude o. Tay-
lor, president of the Michigan State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, appeared before the
executive committee and stated that
there was but one way by which the
resolution to make the investigation
into the conditions in Colorado and
Michigan could be accomplished, and
that was for President Gompers to in
terview the leaders of the House of
Representatives and urge upon them the
advisability and the necessity for the
investigation being made. Upon this
authority President Gompers inter
viewed the leaders of the House OF Rep
resentatives as requested, and on Janu-
ary 81 the House passed the resolution
authorizing the investigation.
Indifference to Human Rights.
In accordance with the instructions OF
the executive council representatives of
the American Federation of Labor urged
Congress to authorize special investi-
CATION of conditions in the strike re-
gions of Colorado and Michigan.
The House of Representatives inaug-
urated federal movement to end the
industrial war that was bringing dis,
grace upon our government at home and
abroad. Tle House adopted resolu-