The Ocala evening star., 1915-02-02
RICH MEN AND
THEIR MISREPRESENTATION

In New York, the other day, John
d. Rockefeller, Jr., met Mother
Jones" and other representatives of
the labor unions and had long talk
with them, which seems to have re-
suited in mutual esteem. Mr.. Rookie
feller, after the interview, spoke in
high terms of Mother JONES'" whom
he found a well-informed and super
Tor woman.
There is little reason to doubt that
Mr.. Rockefeller wants to do the
square thing by the men. who work
for him, and is also anxious to serve
mankind in general. There is a deep
er feeling behind his philanthropies
than either a desire to win the ap-
plause of the world or to buy his
way into heaven. Only an excessive
ly narrow mind takes either into con-
sideration in this enlightened age.
On the other hand, laboring men,
organized or unorganized, are some
times unreasonable in their demands,
and are often prone to violence when
their demands are not granted. Much
of the trouble of organized labor is
brought on itself. 1t has its hell
benders, ready to start a riot on the
least excuse, and it has its grafters
who prey on the men and women they
are in honor bound to help.
On the principle that where there
is so much smoke, there is bound to
be some fire, the volume of complaints
that go up from the Colorado coal
fields certainly have some foundation.
John r. Lawson, member of the ex-
ecutive board of the United Mine
Workers of America, in his testi-
mony before the federal commission
on industrial relations said:
'eThere is no social life in the Col
orado mining camps. The companies
own all the houses, ground, schools,
churches and stores. Complete des-
potisn exists in the mining camps.
Men work In mines because they are
forced to, not because they want to.
IF they complain, it is down the can
yon' for theirs. And if the man who
does work is hurt he is taken to a
company hospital. If he dies COM
pany coroner conducts the inquest
over the body. As long as can re-
member, only two verdicts unfavora-
bic to the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co
have been found-and think the
company furnished the cemeteries
The coroners have habit of giving
verdicts of suicide or death due tc
carelessness. One coroner wrote, in {
certain case, that the victim of an ac
cident had no relatives and damned
few friends"
Mr.. Lawson said that there were
nineteen indictments pending agains
him in Colorado. Altogether, he said
three thousand coal miners are unde
Indictment in Colorado, and not al
operator has been indicted. Mr.. Law
son said he was shot down severa
years ago by an operator. When tn
hearing came up, Mr.. Lawson said
the district attorney, John L. Gray
said the case should not be pressed a
it twas charge. growing out of
strike" So the operator was. dis
charged.
And with all the great and ur
doubted good done by the Rockefelle
philanthropies, the following is an e.
preston of the feeling with whic
they are viewed by a large proportio
of the American people:
Health for China, a refuge fc
birds, food for the Belgians, pension
for New York widows, universit
training for the elect-and never
thought or a dollar for thousands (
men, women and children who starve
in Colorado, for the widows robbed |
husbands, children of their father
There are thousands of Mr.. Rockefe
Ier's employees in Colorado who wis
to God they were in Belgium to
fed, or bird to be tenderly care
for"
The trouble about men in Mr.. Roc
efeller's position is that they have