The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-04-15
LABOR OPPRESSED.
Agent For Churches AssaIls Mine
Operators.
WORKERS DENIED JUSTICE.

Thirty Years OF Tyranny by the Coal
Companies Have Taught the Miners
That Their Only Hope Is In the
Unions, Says Rev. Henry A. Atkinson.
In a report to the commission on
church and social service Of the Fed
eral Council OF the Churches OF Christ
In America. made public recently. the
Rev. Henry A. Atkinson, associate Sec
rotary. attacks the Colorado coal COM
panies for their attitude toward the
labor troubles in that state. The Fed
eral council represents thlrty-one evan
gelical denominations.
Mr.. Atkinson was sent to Colorado
and also to the copper mining districts
OF Michigan. where there were indus
trial difficulties. by the social service
commission of the Congregational
churches and the commission Of the
Council Of Churches. After reviewing
the trouble in Colorado his report says:
1.-THE coal companies dominate the
politics in those counties where the
mines are located. They have brought
about the election Of the judges, sher-
ifs, coroners and assessors. They can
do about as they please so far az the
law is concerned A mass Of evidence
was brought out to show that they
control the political. social and eco
nomic situation. Jefferson Farr, sheriff
of Huerfano county, has been in Office
for fifteen years. He is known as the
king of Huerfano county What he
says goes as one of his admirers put
it to me. 1t is not what he says. how
ever, but what the coal companies say.
These companies have procured his
election as well as that Of other OIL
GERS, and they control them.
1T is impossible to enforce the law
and the courts are practically closed to
those who in any way incur the enmity
of the coal companies; thus economic
justice is denied the men through the
manipulation of political affairs. Thirty
years Of such oppression, industrial.
social and political, have taught the
miners that their only hope is in the
unions An individual counts for moth
ing; If he protests he loses his job; If
; he makes too much trouble he is dealt
, with by hired gun men. who are kept
; at the mines to do the win Of the COM
panies and help enforce the law against
the workers"
. OF the actions of the militia. Mr..
Atkinson says:
. 1.-THE soldiers were received gladly
by the strikers. for they expected they
would have some protection, but their
hopes were in vain. 1t soon became
evident that the militia was under the
: control of the coal companies. Men
and women were thrown into Jail with
out any charge being lodged against
them and held incomunicado.
: THE constitution of the state was
: set aside The militia met and escorted
: strike breakers who were brought int
: the state. The militia instead of aim
! ing to maintain order and secure jus
tice, was used to break the strike
e Special attack was made upon the Lud
+ low colony. it being the largest in thu
district There were 900 persons living
e there; 272 of them children, twenty-on'
|, having been born during the winter
i There were twenty-one nationalitie
J, and yet they lived In peace. 1t was thi
e colony against which the militia, in
o Guiding the mine guards. directed thei
fire. A number of the inhabitants wer
}, killed and the tents were destroyed b,
Il fire.
/ "In the investigation following tn
e Ludlow battle it was shown that man,
"a Of the militia who were receiving pa.
n from the state were at the same tim
in the employ of the coal companies a
guards; thus they were receiving dou
BILE pay. They were really employee
:. Of the company fighting in the name
" the state"
u In reviewing the conditions the re
- port says:
y mo amount Of welfare work, how
y ever admirable it may be, viii take tn
rs place Of fair wages and right cond
D. tons Of labor. But the churches ar
opposed to violence no matter what tn
provocation. Such tactics reflect upo
the workers themselves.
Is 'sThe right of workmen to organic
az has been and Is being denied by tn
ul un-American and unit Christian attitud
ed of the mine operators, who thus d.
he prive their employees Of an essenu'
means Of self defense, the right to ba
gain collectively for their labor.
- "In connection with these strikes OF
z of the most pressing questions is thi
! of the ownership and the control Of Il
y stock. We call upon our united church
to study in the light of the ethics
32 Jesus the question of such absent'
g. ownership and the responsibility gSo'
ing out of it."