Iditarod pioneer., 1915-04-03
ANOTHER" JONES' TALK
 WITH YOUNG ROCKEFELLER

The picture of Mother" Jones' the 82- vear-old leader of the coal miners, hobnob- ping with John D. Rockefeller, Jr., is one of the most important, as we'll as one Of the prettiest, incidents in the recent strug- gle between labor and very rich men.
 Mother" Jones is a bern leader of men. Far into old age she retains the vibrant enthusiasms of youth. At time when most men and women have succumbed to weak ness and are glad only to keep warm Tn the | romance of the past, this old veteran has stood exposed on the battling line of indus try Again end again she has gone to prison and at least three times she has been in carcerated in direct violation of the constr tutions of two states and of the United States. What militants have endured she has suffered willingly, for her spirit is un- tamable. She has undergone considerably more than the fighting sutfraglsts, because no islander has been too foul fer her enc mics I talked with her day or two after she was released by the martial rulers ot Colorado She had been pent up nine long weeks in military prison, deprived of all ! opportunities for exercise and forbidden all human companionship. Despite all this, Ter step was elastic, her eyes flashed brll- lantly, and her rich voice rang with the sonorous music which men described Tn William Jennings Bryan on his great day in 1896
 Hardships had not embittered her. She was talking of the psychology of classes, ot the need for education and of fundamental liberties of nations. Her own illegal lmprs- onment meant little to her except as It showed how the writ of habeas corpus might be swept aside She was concerned fer the long future. H. G. Wells Social Forces in England and America was then being generally discussed Mother Jones had not read it, for she has little leisure, and she is entirely an unacademlc person. Yet again and again she gave voice to incisive criticisms of society, drawn from her own experiences, which coinclded with the doctrines of the famous English ob- server Hour after hour her mind ranged widely over human affairs. The easy mas
 cry of her comment was thrilling. The in evitable conclusion phrases itself: Here IS great woman'
 And now she and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., have met upon friendly basis At the end of the conference Mother" Jones paused to say T have just told Mir. Rocke- feller one thing tge have been misrepre- senng him terribly, I as much as anybody else" A generous confession from leader of the yanquished,
 After his conference with ''Mother' Jones MT. Rockefeller invited Frank J. Hayes Ed ward Doyle and John Lawson, officials of ,he United Mine Workers, to meet him as man to man. for a discussion of the Colo rado situation Concerning his talk with Mrs Jones he had said "She told me about the schools and about the desire of the miners to choose their own teachers, the companys stores and the right of the work men to bring their grievances to one of the higher officials or to a director without eopardizing their positions.
 T found myself able to agree with all she said on these things in principle, al though, of course, it was impossible tor me to talk about what it may be possible for the company to do.
 And concerning his interview with the union leaders, so lately bis bitter enemies, Mir. Rockefeller continued: T believe it will be for the good of everybody if l can have talks with these union men. 1 want .to find out exactly how they look at things eHU l WdlIj lD btlI lutlu Hlldl lily U"ll Nlt"S pre- I am sure we shall understand each -other better"
 It is now matter of history that if an attitude such as that displayed by the younger Rockefeller had been taken by his representatives in Colorado the terrible tragedy of the coal strike might have been avoided Efforts one after another were made to get the union men and the com pany officials together for a conference. Governor E. M. Ammons repeatedly tried to effect this. Upon more than one occa sion representatives of the men were as 1 sembled in one room and representatives | of the coal operators were collected Tn a chamber adjoining All the men wanted was a chance to meet their employers as "man to man." Every other grievance could be eliminated. And every time the local 1 representatives of the Rockefeller interests made this impossible.
 ! The company's officials thought, of course, that they were serving their employer As a matter of fact, they were doing him the worst possible injury. Men and magazines who had been apathetc toward union labor or even hostile to it were won by the drama of the coal fields The fight in Colorado touched the conscience of the nation as nothing had done in years.
 A transcendant event like the burning of women and children at Ludlow is needed to put some new belief into the minds of the people The refusal of the representa- tive masters to meet their men achieved this. It was the event of decade, but it was cruelty unnecessary. Hate came to Col orado and hate came to the nation. It was | because men did not know each other. As the President reiterated the other day. you cant hate fellow you know. Even the soldiers of hostile armies play together if | given a chance So it is in industrial war fare.-W. L. Chenery in Chicago Herald.