Evening journal., 1915-09-21
rockefeller meets
COLORADO WORKERS
InSpectS Scenes of Ludlow
Battles in the Recent
Labor War
EATS DINNER
WITH LAB0RERS

TRINIDAD. Col, Sept. 21.-John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., visited yesterday the
scene of the Ludlow battle and the
mining camps Of Berwind and Ia
basco on his first days inspection
tour of the properties of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company.
After talking freely with the miners
he went into their homes, questioning
their wives about working and living
conditions, and making suggestions
for improvements.
For luncheon Mr.. Rockefeller stop
ped at the miners boarding house at
Berwind. Tom Davis, superintendent
of the mine, who sat at his right hand,
clad in blue overalls and with coal
dust ground into the wrinkles of his
face. meanwhile doing full justice TO
the beefsteak. beans and mashed pota-
toes, was engaged in a running con-
versation by Mr.. Rockefeller.
After the luncheon the party went
to Tabasco, stopping on the way 10
visit the school. where Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter inspected some extensive improve
ments, work done in part by the ex-
penditure of money contributed by the
Rockefeller Foundation last winter
to furnish work for unemployed min
ers following the calling off of the
strike.
They do not sing very we'll. sir"
apologized the pretty school ma'am,
''you see, they have just started and
haven't had time 10 learn much And
! then they are so little"
( They're doing fne-fne," replied
John d. Rockefeller. Jr., smiling
broadly. And 60 sons and daughters
Of Berwind and Tabasco miners of an
/ average age of years and Of per-
haps dozen nationalities, sang lus-
tily, in good United States, the song
in which they had been carefully
drilled by Miss Edna Campbell. teach
er OF the first grade.
Then Mr. Rockefeller made a speech
to the schoolchildreu in which he told
them TO study hard and obey theil
teacher. "And when next | come TO Col
orado, perhaps some of you will be
teachers yourselves" he added 81 hav,
six children myself" continued the oil
!. magnate. Sometimes they are not a.
/ mannerly as you seem to be. Maybe III
, bring a few of them along the next tim,
come 70 Colorado"
D Mr. Rockefeller asked the miners anc
/ their wives how they were satisfied Will
r the houses they rented from the com
/, pany. how much rent they paid anl
z whether they thought the houses wer'
worth the money.
/ 'Why don't you have a garden!" h
/ demanded of one miner. "You could ii,
] this place up so it would look much bet
4 tern
Z Early in the round up inspection Mr.
Rockefeller hunted up Dan Morelli,
coal digger, who had been elected b,
the men of the Berwind camp to rep
resent them in conferences with tn
, officers of the company Dan had jus
come up from the mine and his fac
was grimed with black dust. The twl
, sat down side by side on the steps o
the mine Office and talked earnestl,
for perhaps 20 minutes
Rockefeller questioned the mine
r closely on the practical working of tn
scheme recently started for confer
ences between officers of the compan
I and representatives of the miners.
Leaving the canon late in the after
noon, the party returned to Trinidad
/ where Mr. Rockefeller was enter
tanned AT a picture show and saw
5 nimeu representation OF parade a
J the recent field and track meet giveI
= by employees of the Colorado Fuel an,
Iron Company.
r During his trip Mr.. Rockefeller wa
!. accompanied by President J. F. Wei
born and other officers of the com
pany
b William Diamond. representative 4
i Colorado of the International organi
cation Of the United Mine Workers o
J. America. when asked this afternoo
e about a rumor that steps would
n taken looking to the arrest of John I
y Rockefeller. Jr., in connection wit
y strike disorders. said:
Il have taken no such action bu
d will discuss it with A. NJ Belchei
e counsel for the international organ
e zation, who is expected to reach Der
ie yer tomorrow"