The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-08-27
JOHN D.
IN REPORTS
TO CONGRESS

ty'f fNRfahto w tofffVhUlG1~
tIon 10 a national investigating
body marks the report today Of
George p. West Of the Indus
trial Relations Commission,
placing responsibility for the
bloody Colorado coal strike at
the door Of John d. Rockefeller
and his son. John D. Roekefel.
Ter, Jr.
The report charges Rockefeller.
ir.. with approving measures to
coerce the Colorado state govern
ment and with flouting tho viii OF
President Wilson
Mr.. Rockefeller's responsibility
has n significance above and beyond
the sinister results OF HIS policy In
Colorado" the report says.
Tho peryersion OF and contempt
for government. tho disregard OF
public welfare and tho defiance of
public opinion during the strike
must be considered as only one
manifestation OF tho autocratic and
Nntisoclal spirit OF man whose
enormous wealth gives him infinite
opportunity 10 act In similar fashion
In broader fields"
Denounec Lawson Case
The trial aud convection OF John
II. Lawson. tho Colorado labor lead
or. on n charge OF murder. was de-
nounced ms 'anarchiam stripped OF
every prctensc or even that chlmeri.
cal ldealism that fires the unbal.
Anced mind OF the bomb thrower."
Tho report declared Lawson was
believed TO be n man OF exceptional.
~ high character and a good clti.
zen In every sense OF tho term"
Tell Details Of Trial
After reciting that lawson was
tried by n Judge appointed by Gov
Carlson after serving for attorney
for the Colorado Fuel a Iron Co. II
said;
The prosecution and conviction
Of Mr.. lawson under these circum.
stances and his sentence TO life i'm.
prisonment nj hard labor marked
the lowest steps OF the prostitution
OF ColorAdo'a government TO the will
OF tho Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. and
it's associates.
1T IL the crowning infamy OF all
tho Infamous records In Colorado OF
American institutions perverted and
debauched by selfish interests"
Communities In Revolt
With tho statement that tho Col.
orado strike was revolt by whole
communities against arbitrary eco
nomic. political and social DONNA
ton by tho Colorado Fuel A. Iron
Co. and smaller companies. follow.
Ing it's lead. tho report declared:
The policies and acts OF the CT.
ecutiys officials OF the Colorado Fuel
4 Iron Co. and other companies that
acted with them had the hearty sup.
port and endorsement OF tho great.
est and most powerful influence In
America--that OF John u. Rockefcl.
Ter.
Rockefeller Praises Men
1T Ia greatly to BE- doubted II the
Colorado operators could hayc min
tanned their unyieldinG and defiant
attitude OF opposition 10 enlightened
public opinion OF the entire nation
had they not been bulwarked by the
material and moral power welded
by the highest private fortune in the
world.
During all tho tragic and bitter
months that preceded Ludlow Mr..
Rockefeller wrote letter after letter
In enthusiastic praise OF men whose
acts during this period had precipl.
tated reign OF terror and blood.
shed"
When tho economic. social and 20
liticai domination OF the coal com.
panies finally drose the workers to
revolt the report declared the own.
ers not only refused 10 admit the
possibility OF any grievance but at
n time when they could have pre-
vented strike by merely granting
n conference TO the union men. they
chose instead 10 refuse the confer.
cnce and in doing so made them
selves responsible for tho disasters
and tragedy that followed"