Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-30
Union Official Tells Com.
mission of Conditions
in Colorado.
COMPANIES OWN
HOMES AND FOOD
John r. Lawson's Recital Indicates
Workers We're Little Better Than
sIaves-charses Foundation substi.
tutes Philanthropy For Justice
Lives Of Men at Low Value - Men
Forced to Work or starve.

New York, Jan. 30.-John r. Lawson,
executive board member for Colorado,
of the United Mine Workers Of
America, who yesterday denounced
conditions in Colorado mining camps
before federal industrial relations
commission, and arraigned John d.
Rockefeller, Jr., continued his testi-
mony today.
There is no social life in the
camps" Mr. Lawson said. "The COM
pany owns all the grounds. houses.
schools and stores. Complete despotism
exists in the camp"
Mr.. Lawson read into the record
long list Of accidents in the mines and
list OF men killed by violence in the
camps in 1913. This was done, he said,
that the commission might know how
many widows and fatherless children
there were in Colorado.
They get an average Of $305.4O II
the father and husband is killed." he
said. What can they do in life with
$305.4O?"
Men Forced to Work.
Men worked in the mine, he said,
~SssS.CS
they wanted to-. II they complained,
lit was down the canyon for them" II
one dies company coroner conducts
the inquest-"as long - I can re-
member only two verdacts against the
Colorado company have been found"
The coroner wrote In Z ceftain case
that the victim Of an aocident had no
relatives and damned few friends"
No coal miner, Mr.. lawson sAid, has
ever shirked his duty In protecting life
and the interest Of the operators. CCux
pany detectives and gunner constant
~ spied on the men to see that they
did not get together. This applied to
the camps where there were no unions.
In union camps. Mr.. Lawson testi-
f1ed. the condition was entirely differ
ent The University Of Colorado, he
said, had promised that It would ex-
tend its work into the camps 80 that
the men might have an opportunity to
educate themselves. In non-union
camps Mr.. Lawson said. there was
occasionally a dance, but no other
amusement or recreations.
Says Law Was Violated.
Mr.. Lawson called the commissions
attention to statement he said was
made by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in
April. 1914. in which he is quoted as
saying his company would never recog-
nize the United Mine Workers OF
America.
Two weeks later came Ludlow"
said Mr.. Lawson. II do not know
whether there was any connection be-
tween these two things. l hope not"
The witness discussed the payment
of worlmen in script redeemable for
merchandise at company stores, and
the employment of check weighmen
who are paid by the miners. to see that
the company does not cheat the men
in weighing the coal on the tipple.
There Is law in Colorado, he said,
providing for check weighmen: in spite
Of that the law was frequently violated
by the operators. When weighmen are
selected. he continued the companies
see to 1t that safe men," from their
viewpoint, are chosen.
Mr.. Lawson thought 1t mistake on
the part of organized labor to re-elect
union officers who had been convicted
OF crimes
Lawson's View Of Law.
He read a list of laws providing for
weighmen, an eight hour day and the
right to Join labor organizations.
He was asked II the Colorado Fuel 4
Iron Company had refused to treat witt,
the United Mine Workers of America.
on the ground that they were law
breakers.
That was one Of the charees." said
the witness.
II defy any one to prove that we
violated the law" said Mr.. Lawson. 'Tf
my neighbor called to me and asked mo
to get my rife or revolver and help him
defend his property and the lives OF his
family, would that be a violation Of the
law|
ut would IL you got a thousand men
together that way" said Commissioners
Weinstock.
"Yes, you would be violating tho law
against blocking the traffic" said the
witness. .
Refuses 20 Answer Some Questleos.
When questioned by Mrs. Borden
Harrison, q member of the commission.
as to the details OF the arminR Of the
men, Mr.. Lawson asked to be excused
from replying. as he was one Of those
indicted in connection with the trouble
in Colorado.
"The 'so-called call to arms was ts-
sued two days after the shooting 1t
Ludlow"
He was questioned concerning state
ments alleged to have been made ~ on.
orators that the united mine workers'
were contract breakers.
He replied that II the complaints had
been taken up with the executive board
the miners would have gone back to
work under contract or would have
been put out OF the union.
Turned Loose on Dessrs.
E~s4t ~
shooting OF striking miners In Colo
into the desert without food or water,
while others were driven over the
snow Of tho mountain ranges. He uk-.