Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-04
ROCKEFELLER
INDUSTRIAL
PLAN MEETS
APPROVAL
Meeting of Mine Off
GERS and Miners Rep
resentatives in Colo.

Pueblo. Col, Oct. 3.-The Rockefeller
industrial plan was approved by unan-
imous vote at a meeting Of mine Off
GERS and miners representatives here
Saturday. The plan will be submitted
to the directors of the Colorado Feul
& Iron Co and to a referendum vote
OF the miners for final adoption.
The plan was unfolded SATURDAY AZ
a meeting Of the company's officers.
mine superintendent and the grew
ance representatives selected by the
miners at Is Colorado coal camps.
Mr.. Rockefeller explained the pro
Visions Of the system devised by HIM
self and ". L. Mackenzie King, in col
liberation with Pres. j. F. Welborn
and other officers FOR settling the re-
lations of labor and capital.
Among the miners delegates were
seven from Fremont county. all of
whom declared themselves members of
the United Mine Workers Of America
and former strikers.
Nearly all Of the other delegates
were non-unien men. most of them
having worked for the company dur
ing the strike.
Mr. Rockefeller in opening his adj
dress. said:
This is the first time I have ever
had an opportunity to speak to the
delegates Of the miners and to the Of
ficers of the company together. This
is day which / shall remember to
my dying day.
Two weeks ago in a meeting Of this
kind we would have met as strangers.
Since then / have visited the coal
camps of Southern Colorado. l have
gone into your homes and met your
wives and children. So now feel We
meet not as strangers, but as friends"
Mr.. Rockefeller then outlined his
idea Of a corporation, saying it was
made up Of four parties-stockholde
directors, officers and employees.
The interest Of neither one Of
these four parties can be neglected
without disaster to the whole com
pany." he said.
Based on Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining, insured by
contract signed and sealed, with a
I~A@A ~ was ioIAtSCu " IKE
employees of the Colorado Fuel & Iron
Co. in the plan outlined.
The scheme carries guarantee
against discrimination against mem
bers of any union, but does not pro-
vide for recognition of the United
Mine Workers of America.
The outline submitted is divided in
to four different sections:
l. Representation Of the employees
and the manner of their selection.
2. District conferences. joint COM
mittees and joint meetings.
3. The prevention and adjustment
Of industrial disputes.
4. Social and industrial bettermen:.
The miners at each camp are to
elect representatives on basis of one
for every $50 wage-earners. Each
camp is entitled to at least two rep
resentatives.
For mediation purposes the COM
pany's camps are divided into five dis
tricts.
For Settlement of Disputes
For the settlement of disputes and
the discussion Of any problems in thu
relations Of the company with it's en-
ployes, district conferences shall be
held, attended by the grievance repre-
sentatives from all the camps in the
district and company officers, not ex-
ceeding in number the representatives
of the miners. -
The plan makes elaborate provision
putes. After pledging the corporation
and its employees to observe Federal
and state mining laws the manifesto
states:
There shall be no discrimination by
the company or by any Of it's en-
ployes on account Of membership or
membership in any society. fra
ternity or union.
Another clause says: The right to
hire and discharge the management
Of the properties and the direction Of
the working forces shall be vested ex-
clusively in the company, and. as ex-
pressIy restricted. this right shall not
be abridged by anything contained
therein"
The plan provides, however, that the
company must post a list Of offenses
for which dismissal may be made
without notice; for all other offenses
employees shall not be discharged
without notification that a repetition
will cause dismissal. The company re-
serves the privilege of relieving en-
ployes from. duty on account Of lack
of work.
Employees are guaranteed the right
to hold meetings. the purchase Of sup
plies where they please and to employ
check weighmen.
A miner or group Of miners with a
grievance against the company shall
take the matter to the camps elected
representative. The representative must
first seek adjustment from the foreman
or superintendent. Falling to receive sat
usfaction he then is at liberty to appeal
to the presidents Industrial representa-.
tive. at present David Grifiths. or to the
higher officers Of the company up to
Pres. J. F. Welborn.
Another method Of settlement open to
the miners. after the initia, appeal to
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