South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-27
John D. jr. is Declared to Have
Been the Leader in Formu-
lating and Carrying
Out Policies.
IGNORED THE WILL OF
PRESIDENT OF THE u. s.
Praised Men Who Were in
Charge, Says G. P. West
of Commission on In
duStriaI Relations.

CHICAGO. Aug. 27.-The Rookie
fellers are blamed for the miners
strike in Colorado in 1913 and 1914
and disorder, murder and arson that
accompanied the disturbances in
40 page abstract made public today
by George z. West of the United
States Commission on Industrial Re
lations, of his report of the causes
and effect of the mining troubles.
The responsibility for the strikes is
placed on the operators and the Col
orado Fuel and Iron Co, Immediately
controlled by John ID. Rockefeller and
John ID. Rockefeller, jr., is declared
to have been the leader in formulat-
ing and carrying out strike policies.
Gov. Ammon of Colorado and 9th
er state county officials and state Of
ficials are also blamed and condemn
ed in the abstract of the West report
Incompetent Agents.
The Rockefellers are charged with
the selection of incompetent and
reactiOnary agents and with giving
their heartfelt endorsement and sup
port to these officials after they had
taken action that precipitated the
worst Of the trouble. John ID. Rookie
feller. jr.. is charged with having ig-
nored the will of the president of the
United States and with having ap-
proving measures to coerce the state
of Colorado.
The abstract says in part:
During all the seven tragic and
bitter months that preceded Ludlow,
Mr. Rockefeller wrote letter after
letter in enthusiastic praise of men
whose acts during this period had
precipitated a reign of terror and
bloodshed. It was only when the
massacre of Ludlow filled the press
of the nation with editorial denunci-
alton. when mourners in black silent
ly paraded before the New York Of
fees. when cartoons in the conser-
vative press pillOried him and his
father before an angry public that at
last complacency gave way to con-
Germ in his letters and telegrams to
Denver
"Mr. Rockefeller's responsibility
has a significance beyond even the
sinister results of his policy in Col
orado. The perversion of and of con-
tempt for government the disregard
of public welfare and the defiance of
public opinion during the Colorado
strike must be considered as only one
a manifestion of the autocratic and
anti-sOcial spirit, a man whose enor-
nous wealth gives him infinite oppor-
tunity to act in similar fashion in
broader fields
Facts Established.
Every important statement of fact
contained in the report. it is said is
established by quotations from the
correspondence of responsible Of
ficials of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Co, TO Mr.. Rockefeller and members
of his personal staff"
The report gives this quotation
form letter from Mr.. Rockefeller to
AIR. Bowers:
You are fighting a good fight not
only for your own company but for
tie other companies Of Colorado"
Discussing the company's rejection
of Pres't Wilson's plan for a settle
mept of the strike, the report says:
Deceived President
Mr.. Rockefeller not only rebuffed
the president by denying his earnest
request but, if the letters of his
agents may be relied upon. he appar-
emily deceived the president and the
public by means of the company's s
letter of rejection"
The report then gives extracts from
the letter written by Pres't J.. +. Wei
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO)