El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-08
ROCKEFELLER
BLAMED FOR
LIFE LOSSES
United Mine Workers, in a
Statement, Say He Could
Have Prevented It.
NO GENERAL STRIKE
TO BE CALLED NOW

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, May S.-John d.
Rockefeller jr. could have prevent
4 ed loss Of life in Colorado by favor
ing a settlement of the coal strike
through a meeting Of the operators and
the miners, according to a statement
issued today by the executive board Of
the United Mine Workers Of America,
| in session here. me statement also de-
I clares there can be no turning back
or turning aside The sacrifices al
ready made are too great
Reviews the Strike.
The statement reviews the strike, and
continues;
1--WE deplore the loss Of life. acts OF
violence and destruction OF property
which have taken place We are for
peace and the establishment Of right re-
lastOns between employers and en-
pIOyes. We have exercised our efforts
at all times toward righteous deal
! ings."
The miners asked for a conference
time after time. il IS stated and quit
work only after they had been refused
a hearing 'Ninety-fiye percent Of all
I the men employees ceased work and are
! still idle the statement asserts The
statement widely circulated by the coal
operators representative that 10 per-
cent. of their employees were attempting
TO force so percent is absurd and false
Inc small number Of employees are Mex
leans, japanese and Incompetent strike
I breakers"
IL Children, Two Women Dead.
a long list of prosecutions cuImi-
mated in the massacre Of Ludlow on
April 20 The brutality OF the gunner
seemed at that time to have reached
Its climax After the battle was over
Il children. ranging in age from six
months TO 10 years. and the two women
whose bodies were blackened and
burned, were take nfrom the smoking
runs OF their 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
Sacrifice Might Have Beea Avoided.
This is an awful sacrifice. all Of
which could have been avoided if John
D. Rockefeller, jr-. who occupies such
a powerful position in the financial
world. would have spoken one word ia
vOring a settlement through q meeting
between the representatives Of the coal
companies and the representatives. Of
the strike employees and shall this bat
tie Of determination 20 ON 1t is no
longer a struggle for social Justice but
instead the humble miners in Colorado
are Ilsnllng the battle Of the common
people against the powerful corpora
lions associated with John D. Rookie
Teller, IT.
Mine Workers TO support Strikers.
shall these powerful interests crush
and destroy the hopes. ambitions and
aspirations Of these striking miners and
their families2 The answer must be Z
no There can be no turning back or
turning aside The sacrifices already [
made are too great The slaughter Of I
innocent lives demands from US our I
fullest measure Of devotion
with resOlute purpose and firm de- ]
termination, the United Mine Workers !
Of America hereby pledge themselves 20 :
support the mine workers In Colorado :
and aid them as long as this contest !
goes on. even though II lasts for a 1
period Of 10 years, until their rights I
are recognized and an honorable wage !
settlement brought about.
Right Of Organization Inherent.
We deem the exercise Of the right /
Of the Colorado miners TO belong TO the J
United Mine Workers Of America as in }
herent and the establishment Of a labor .
union among them as essential to the I
preservation Of peace, the establish |
ment Of social justice and a protection /
against the imposition of unjust con- ]
dition in the future. Without the pro- |
lection Of the labor organization what !
chance has an individual miner in deal /
ing with powerful financial interests, !
wen organized ana as represented py !
John D. Rockefeller. IT.. whose name Is /
Synonymous with Standard Oil@'
No General Strike.
That IT is not the part Of wisdom for |
the miners in the organized states 10 |
engage in a general strike at this par
ticular time. was the report today Of the ]
special committee to the international !
executive board OF the United Mine ]
Workers Of America in session here It /
was decided, however, to push the strike /
in Colorado, and an appeal for financial I
help was issued
Better Earn Money For Strikers.
After stating that the situation had i
been canvassed thoroughly. the report /
on the general strike subject con-
tinues.
I'VE believe that we can better aid
cur gallant brothers in Colorado by re-
naming at work thus iusuring in a
way our fullest support to
the men, women and children who have
been long engaged in the great strug-
gle in Colorado We must be in no
sitiOn to finance properly the strike !
in that state indefinitely until the Z
success OF the miners cause is assured. ;
and a general strike at this time might I
j. opardize our position in this respect
without adding anything material 10 I
the success Of the Colorado strike.
May Change Policy.
"Of course. il conditions in Colorado
90 not improve and if we do not re- I
celNe the proper protection from the !
Il federal government this policy may he
changed to meet exigeucies of any new
velop.
We call on our membership every
Where TO hold themselves in readiness
to answer any call we may make on
them You can rest assured that we !
are firmly resolved to carry out any I
move which we believe to be bene-
tlclal 10 the Colorado strikers. but at z
the policy We have outlined is the
Wlsest course for us to pursue"
ASSURANCES OE ST-ppnu1r