Denver labor bulletin., 1915-08-28


imperative necessity OF electing men to
represent the people instead of the cor
porations.i
The responsibility for the strike of
coal miners in Colorado in 1918 and 1914
for the disorder and suffering that fol-
lowed is placed squarely on the shoulders
OF operators in final report by George
P. West. made public in Chicago this
week by the commission on industrial
relations
The Colorado Fuel and Iron company,
controlled by John d. Rockefeller, is
declared to have been the leader in for
mulating and carrying out strike policies
Mr.. Rockefeller and his son. John ID.
Rockefeller, jr.. are charged. first. with
the selection of incompetent and reac-
tionary agents to serve as executive Of
ficials in this company, and. second. with
giving their heartiest Endorsement and
support to these officials after they had
taken action that precipitated the worst
OF the troubles
Mr.. Rockefeller, jr-. is charged with
having approved measures to coeree the
49, = x0alGQn1n. .nn5zwi>h
having floslted the will of the president
of the United States
Sinister Motives of Rockefeller
The report says:
During all the seven tragic and bitter
months that preceded Ludlow. Mr..
Rockefeller wrote letter after letter in
enthusiastic praise of men whose acts
during this period had precipitated q
reign of terror and bloodshed. 1t Was
only when the Ludlow massacre filled
the press of the nation with editorial
lxaprr x,<so lar, sr los.L-
silently paraded in front OF his New
York office. when cartoons in the con-
servative press pilloried him and his fa-
ther before an angry public. that at last
complacency gives way to concern in his
letters and telegrams to Denver"
OF Mr.. Rockefeller's responsibility the
report says:
MIR. Rockefeller's responsibility has =
significance beyond even the sinister re-
suits OF his policy in Colorado The
preversion of and contempt for govern
ment. the disregard of public welfare.
and the defiance of public opinion during
the Colorado strike must be considered
as only one manifestation of the auto
cratic and anti-social spirit of a. man
whose enormous wealth gives him infiu-
lite opportunity to act in similar fashion
in broader fields Mr.. Rockefeller writes
to Mr.. Bowers: You are fighting a
good fight. which is not only in the in
terests OF your own company. but of the
other companies of Colorado and of the
business interests OF the entire coun-
try
Unions Menace to Bowers
And Mr., Bowers. with whom Mr..
Rockefeller obviously is in full sym
| pathy and agreement. writes letter after
1,t ~r L..
| ionism as a national menace against
which the business men of the nation
must combine. Now for the campaign
of 1916 and beyond. is the slogan With
which one of these letters closes. and
Mr.. Bowers is unsparing in criticism of
president who would tolerate for
mer official of labor union in his
cabinet
THE nationwide significance and i'm
portsnce OF the Colorado conflict and
the eompary's ruthless policy OF sup
preston are emphasized again and again.
BY June. 1914. MIR. Rockefeller has for
mulated something like definite plan
for nationwide campaign. The most
highly paid publicity expert in the eoun-
try has been borrowed from great
eastern railway, to be taken over later
as permanent member OF Mr.. Rookie
feller's staff A union educational cam
paign' is to be conducted. and the eoun-
try Is to be flooded with articles by
college professors and others bitterly de-
| noupcing trade unions. And at the very
time when he prepares to circulate Prof
Stevenson's intemperate and amazing de-
fense OF Industrial absolutism and TRADE
against TRADES unions. Mr. Rockefeller
enlists the aid OF Mr.. w. L. Mackenzie
King. expert on industrial relations. to
devise spacious substitutes for trade
unions that will deceive. mollify and
sooth public opinion while bulwarking
the employers arbitrary control
Facts Taken From Records
Yet it is important TO remember that
Mr.. Rockefeller's character and policies