Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-28
OWNERS BLAMED
FOR COAL STRIKE
Commission on Industrial Relations
Submits Finding on the Struggle
In Colorado.
COMPANY Is Held ARROGANT
President wilson Scolfed at Tor Efferts
at CoEciIiation- Disregard Tor
Government.

Washington, D C. Aug. 2S.-Respon-
sIbilitv for the strike Of coal miners in
colorado En 1913 and 1914 for the dis
order and suffering that followed IS
placed ln the shoulders Of operators
ID report by George &. West. has
been made public by the c0mmissio
IN industrial relations.
d The colorado Fuel and Iron com
nsrr. controlled by John p. Rockefel-
4 ieg s declared to have been the lead
e. Ia formulating and CARRYING out
strike policies Mr.. Rockefeller ana
/ his son John d Rockefeller Jr. are
charged first, with the selection OF fr-
competent and Te8cti0nany agents TO
serve Us executive officials in this
eompaur. and. second, with giving
their baaraast Endorsement and sun
port .a these officials after they had
taken action that preclpitatcd the
w0rs. aE The troubles.
Rockefeller Flouts President.
Nr Rockefeller, Jr, is charged with
aaytBr approved measures TO coerce
taa state government Of Colorado and
with having fouted the viii of the
president of the United States.
The report says
During a3l the seven tragic and BIT
ter months that preceded Ludlow. Mir.
Rockefeller wrote letter after letter in
enthusiastic praise OF men whose aols
darfuE this period had precipitaced a
reign %. terror and bIoodshed. 1t was
enly when the Ludlow massacre filed
the press If the nation with editorial
deHuna on. when m0urners iu black
silently Haraded iu front OF his New
York Office. when cartoons ia the cau-
servattHe press piiloried him and his
father before aa angry public. that at
last cuug.aceucy gives way to con-
cern 7 his letters and kilograms 10
Denver
Shows Disregard for Law.
of Mr.. RockafeIIer's responsibility
the report says.
Mr. Raukata3Ier's responsibility has
q significance beyond even the s5n-
5ster results of his policy i'm Colorado.
Perversian OF and contempt for gov
eminent. disregard of public welfare.
and defiance Of public opinion during
the Colorado strike must he c0nsid-
cred az only One manifestation Of the
autocradc and anti-social spirit of
nan whose enormous wealth gives
him infinite opportunity to act IN
similar fashion fla broader fields. N.
Rockefeller writes 30 MT. Bowers. You
aFe fighting good fight, which is not
anlv ln the interests Of your own com
panv 51r Of the other companies oil
Colorado and Of the business interests
Of the entire country
THionism Called Menace.
and 1lr Bowers. with whom 8Ir
Rockefeller obviously is in full sympa-
thy and agreement. writes letter after
letter Pioruring the growth of trade
unionisw as "a national menace against
which the business men of the nation
must combine Now for the campaign
Of 1915 and beyond, is the slogan with
which one Of these letters closes. and
Sir Bowers is unspartng in criticism
Of president who would tolerate q
former official of a labor union in his
cabinet
The nationwide significance ana
import ance of the Colorado conflict
and the company's ruthless policy If
suppression are emphasized again and
again. BY June. 1914 Mfr Rockefeller
has formulated something like a def
nlte plan for a nationwide campaign.
The most highly paid publicity expert
In the country has been borrowed
from a great eastern railway TO re
taken over later as a permanent mem
A-a- ~
union educational campaign is to BE
conducted. and the country is to be
flooded with articles 10y. college pro