Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-02
and about properties in which
are interested.
Militia Aids ODeratOrS

are interested.
Militia Aids Operators
1T seemed the militia was on the
side of the operators in this contro-
versy," SAYS the report after reciting
the action of the Governor in calling
out the Safe troops, and the evidence
seems conclGsiVely to prove such to
have been the case. The sooner men
armed in the service of the State learn
that the men with whom they may
even violators of the law. but are still
human, the better it will be for all
concerned. ..
"The recruiting of mine guards as
members of the militia, in our juds-
ment, was u mistake, since intense ami
mostly had existed for some time be-
tween the mine guards and the min
ers and it was difficult or even i'm
possible for the miners TO feel that
these men were neutral conservators
of the peace. Some OF the militiamen
seized the opportunity, while clothed
with the authority of the State, to en-
gage in various lawless acts :.
"On other instances the acts were of
an immoral kind and of such a nature
as to be unfit for publication in this
report"
Chase Denounced
The committee denounces John NJ.
Chase, adIutant general of the militia
of the State, for his refusal to testify
except upon condition that he would
not be questioned by representatives
of the miners and declares that he
contact with him.
Reviewing the testimony of many
witnesses, the report says from the
time the strike was called until the
federal troops were sent into the field
by the President of the United States,
there was a series of battles which
seemed to be fierce while they lasted
and a number of people were killed
and wounded on both sides. 1t con-
demns as inexcusable both the attack
on Berwind camp by men alleged TO
have been strikers as we'll as the as
sault upon Forbes tent colony by
armed guards using machine gun.
The private guard system may be
thought necessary the committee
here comments, but wherever il exists
sooner or later trouble will occur"
Testimony of present and former
county officials is quoted to show ef-
forts of mine operators to control cleo
tions in Los Animas and, Huerfano
counties and the committee remarks
that the manner of selecting juries in
those counties, where, according to
witnesses in one case at least, seven
out of twelve jurors were deputy
sheriffs, appears to be against the
provisions of the law
The committee criticises the State
authorities for failing to prevent the
sale of firearms to the contending
forces.
The committee declares that John
d. Rockefeller, Jr., did nothing to i'm
prove the condition of the employees
of the company in which he is a stock
holder and director.
Mr.. Rockefeller" says the report,
"a large stockholder of the most pow
erful company in the State, has done
a great deal for the uplift of people in
other parts of the country and in for
eign lands, spending millions of dollars
in this work, Yet he has not endeavor-
ed to improve the condition of the
more than 5000 employees in the COM
pany with which he is connected, and
has not visited the State for more
than ten years.
Mr.. Rockefeller is a long-distance
director, not having attended a meet
ing of the stockholders or directors of
the company in ten years.
Many of the miners, it is true, make
good wages, yet the scale of prices is
not as high in Colorado as it is in the
adjoining State of Wyoming. :.
Mr.. Rockefeller before the COM
mittee in Washington said he would
not agree 20 arbitrate for the reason
that he was fighting for a great prin-
ciple and would sacrifice all his prop
erty for the principle of every man to
be free to work for whom he pleased
and on such terms as best suits the
worker. Mr.. Rockefeller, speaking as
director of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company, not having attended a
meeting of the stockholders or direc-
tors in ten years, uttering this senti-
ment Of liberty for the working people
OF his company and of the whole
country, should remember that for
forty years there has been the fierc-
est struggle among the workers in the
mines of Colorado. He may win a
strike by starvation under the false
banner of liberty for the working man,
but we do not believe he can maintain
peace under such conditions as exist in
that State.
Mr.. Rockefeller was not a good
judge of conditions in Colorado and
knew nothing about them"
Minority reports were submitted by
two members of the subcommittee,
Representatives Byrnes. of South Caro-
lima, Democrat, and Austin, of Tenn