Denver labor bulletin., 1915-09-11

true that Lieutenant Llnderfelt and
other members of the guard were tried
by courtmartial composed of their fell
low Officers, and that trifling demotions
in rank were assessed as punishment
Nor have the same authorities taken
steps to prosecute officials and directors
OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron company.
in spite of evidence gathered by the com
mission. and which has become common
knowledge, that these officials thru their
agents and subordinates created a pri-
vate armS of armed guards and later
procured the enlistment of these gun
men in the militia, and of well-substan-
tiated charges that these disIcputable
agents of the company in the ;i,se Of
militiamen committed various crimes
from robbery. burglary and arson 20
murder.
For Industrial Absolutism-
THE prosecution of Mr.. Lawson and
many other strikers and union officials
was undertaken and conducted in COM
pliance with the stand taken by the pres
ent governor and the present attorney
general during their campaign for cleo
ton in favor OF claw and order Their
conduct since taking office must be corr
sidered confirmation OF the charge
the campaign that in standing Cor .'law
and order" they were in realty standing
for the coal operators against the -strik-
ers. for industrial absolutism against in
dustrial democracy. and that their con-
eeption of maintaining law and order
was the ruthless suppression of the
strike and imprisonment or execution of
the men who dared to lead it. this TO
serve as an object lesson to Others who
might attempt to lead n similar revolt in
the future
Discussing the causes of the strike the
report SAYS;
Causes of the Strike.
The Colorado strike was revolt BY
whole communities against arbitrary
economic. political and social domina
tion by the Colorado Fuel and Iron com
pany and the smaller coal mining com
psnies that followed its lead. This DOM
ination has been carried to such an ex-
treme that two entire counties of south
ern Colorado for years nave been de-
prived of popular government. while
large groups of their citizens have been
stripped of their liberties. robbed of por-
tions OF their earnings. subjected to
ruthless persecution and abuse. and re-
duced to state of economic and polit-
ical serfdom Not only the government
of these counties. but of the state. has
been brought under this domination and
forced or induced to do she companies
bidding. and the same companies have
even flouted the will of the people oI
the nation as expressed by the presi
dent of the United States
Suppression of Unionism.
Economic domination was achieved by
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company and
its followers thru the ruthless suppress
sion OF unionism. accomplished by the
use of the power of summary discharge
the black list. armed guards, and spies
and by the active aid OF venai state
county and town officials, who placed
the entire machinery of the law at the
disposal of the companies in their perse-
cution of organizers and union members
This economic domination was main
tanned by the companies In order thai
they might be free to obey or disregard
state laws governing coal mining as they
pleased: arbitrarily determine wages ant
working conditions. and retain arbitrary
power to discharge without stated cause
The power to discharge was in turn
used as a club 10 force employees and
their families to submit to company con
troll of every activity in the mining com
munitie>. from the selling of liquor and
groceries to the choice of teachers. min
isters OF the gospel. election judges, and
town and county officials. In the case,
OF several companies. the suppression ol
unionism was used also to DENY check
weiehmen to the men in order that the
miners might he cheated of part of theil
earnings.
Suppress Free Press and Speech.
Political domination was achieved by
the companies by the use of their mon
opoly of employment to suppress fres
speech. free press and free assembly. by
the appointment of company officials a.
election judges. by the formation of q
political partnership with the liquor in
terests. and. in the case of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company. also by the ex-
penditure OF large sums of money to in
fluence votes during campaigns, and by
resort to other forms of fraud and cor
ruption. Where a public official refused
to do their bidding. he was whipped into
line thru pressure from interests that re
sponded to the economic power of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company and its
followers
Had Rockefeliers Support.
''The policies and acts of the executive
officials of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company. and of the other companies
that acted with them. had the hearty
support and Endorsement of the greatest
and most powerful financial interest in
America. that of John u. Rockefeller
and his son. John d. Rockefeller. jr., who
controlled the company thru ownership
of approximately 40 per cent, of its
stocks and bonds. Letters from Mr.
Rockefeller. ir., heartily approving Of
his company's refusal = meet represen-
tatives of the strikers. Of the measures
taken to suppress the strike, and of the
coercion of the Cnvernor that resulted In