The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-27
BOOKSELLERS
CENSURED FOR
STRIKE TERROR
Colorado Tragedies Blamed
on Operators and Agents
in Industrial Relations
Committee Report.
POINTS OUT INCIDENTS

CHICAGO, Aug. 27.-The Rockefel.
lers are blamed for the miners strike
In Colorado in 1913 and 1914 and the
disorder. murder and arson that &C
companied the disturbances, in forty.
page abstract made public today by
George P. West Of the United States
commission on industrial relatives. OF
MS report OF the causes and effect OF
the mining trouble.
The responsibility for the strike is
placed on the operators and Colorado
Fuel and Iron company, Immediately
controlled by John D. Rockefeller and
John d. Rocksferrer, Jr., is declared
to have been the leader in formulating
and carrying out strike policies.
Endorse Violence.
Tho Rockefellers are charge with
the selection Of Incompetent and re.
dictionary agents and with giving their
heartfelt endorsement and support to
these officials after they had taken
action that precipitated the worst Of
the trouble. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
Is charged with having ignored the
will OF the president OF tho United
States and with having approved 1,ea-
sures to coerce the state Of Colorado.
The abstract In part says:
During all the seven tragic and
bitter months that prccedet Ludlow,
Mr.. Rockefeller wrote lettc ter let
ter In enthusiastic praise OF +. - whose
acts during this period nd precip!-
thated q reign OF terror and bloodshed.
II was only when the massacre Of
Ludlow filled the press Of the nation
with editorial deuunciation, when
nlourners in black silently paradcd be.
fore the New York office, whom car
toon IN the conservative press pillored
him and his father before an angry
public, that at last complacency gave
way to concern in his letters and tele-
grams to Denver.
Oenounees Rockefeller.
"Mr. Rockefcller's responsibility has
q Significance beyond even the SIMS.
ter results Of his policy in Colorado.
The perversion OF and contempt tor
government, the disregard Of public
welfare and the defiance of public
opinion during the Colorado strike
must be considered as only one mani
festation OF the autocratic and anti.
social spirit, q man whose enormouse
wealth gives him infinite opportunity
to act in similar fashion in broader
fields"
Every important statement Of fact
contained in the report, 1t Is said, is
established by quotation from the cor.
respondence or testimony of RESPONSE
BILE officials Of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company, or Mr.. Rockefeller and
members of his personal staf.
Quotes Letters.
The report gives this quotation from
q letter from Mr.. Rockefeller to Mr..
Bowers:
"You are lighting a good fight which
is not only in the interest OF your
own company, but Of the other CON-
panies Of Colorado and Of business in.
terests of the entire country" To
which MIR. Bowers is said to have re-
piled in letter after letter, picturing
the growth OF trade unionism as
menace. Mr.. Bowers is unsparing in
criticism Of a president who would
tolerate a former official Of a labor
union in his cabinet
Discussing the company's rejection
of President Wilson's plan for settle
ment of the strike, the report says:
Mr.. Rockefeller not only rebu6ed
the president by denying his earnest
request. but if the letters of his agents
may be relied upon, he apparently de-
the president and the public by means
Of the company's letter OF rejection"
The report then gives extracts from
the letters written by President ]. F..
Welborn and Ivy l.. Lee of the Rookie.
Teller stat.