The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-25
UP TO J. D., JR.
Magnate Invited to Meet Union
Representatives.
w. NJ. w. Seeks to Establish
Contract Relations.
MAGNATE is GIVEN THE LIE
Committee Charges Discrimi-
nation Against Union Men.
Statement Says Press Stories
Give People Wrong Idea.

Denver, Colo, Sept. 25.-An invi-
tation to John D. Rockefeller, Jr., TO
meet representatives of the United
Mine Workers of America and eStab-
lish contract relations in Colorado IF
he has the welfare of his employees at
heart" is contained in a formal state
ment given out today by Robert H
Harlin, Percy Tetlow and James F.
Moran, committeeman representing
the international executive board of
the miners organization in Colorado.
The committeeman recently came to
Colorado vested with power to decide
policies for the miners union in Colo
rade and take necessary steps to de-
fend members in any legal proceed
inSS.
Press Reports Criticised.
Their statement expresses the opin-
ion that newspaper accounts of
Rockefeller's tour of mines in south
ern Colorado will create an erroneous
impression in the minds of those un-
acquainted with existing labor condi-
tons in those fields 1t recites that
in calling the strike two years ago,
the Colorado miners sought tic esta b.
lish the principle of contract rela-
tions between employer ana employe
by collective bargaining; that to es-
tablish this principle, recognition must
be conceded TO a bona fide union of
Mine workers"
The statement then points out that
the United Mine Workers of America
is the only such bona fide organization
of coal miners in America and recog-
nized by the American Federation of
Labor.
Union Men Opposed.
The committee takes issue with a
published statement by Mr.. Rookie
Teller that the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company docs not care whether
its employees are union men or nom
union men, and says:
"since the strike was called off last
December this company Colorado
Fuel and IrOn) has steadfastly refused
to re-employ men who were still at
filiated with the union and we DEFY
Mr.. Rockefeller to produce from his
entire working force in southern Col
orado, a dozen men who are members
of the union
The statement says the miners
representatives with whom Rookie
Teller has conversed in the coal camps,
do not represent the union Omitted
Mine Workers of America), but an or
ganization created by the head off
Gals of the company and afterwards
fOiSted upon the miners.
The statement says that despite Mr..
Rockefeller'S recent announcement
eight or nine hundred members Of
our organization have been refused
others have been discharged on some
flimsy, tru1ped up preteXt,' and that
'the elements that led to the revolt
of miners in southern Colorado still
obtain"
Rockefeller Will Meet Them.
Rockva1e, Col, Sept. 25.-When the
attention of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
was called to a Denver dispatch stat
ing that committee representing the
international committee of the United
Mine Workers of America would in
vite him to a conference with a view
to entering into a contract with the
union, he said:
Il have not yet refused to meet any
one and do not intend to refuse tC
meet any one in the future You may
consider that as my reply
Mr.. Rockefeller refused to comment
on the charges of discrimination con.
tanned in the committees statement