Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-26
MINERS ASK JOHN
D. TO MEET THEM
Invite Rockefeller TO Discuss Prin.
ciple Of Contract Rela-
tons.
HE REFUSES TO COMMENT


DENVER, Colo, Sept. 25.--An in
vitation to John ID. Rockefeller. jr.,
TO meet representatives of the
United Mine Workers Of America
and establish contract relations in
| Colorado, IF he has the welfare OF
his employees at heart" is contained
in a formal statement given out to-
day by Robert II. Harlins Percy Tet-
low and James F. Moran, committee
men representing the international
executive board Of the miners or
ganization in Colorado.
The committeeman recently came to
| Colorado vested with power TO decide
policies for the miners union in Colo
RADIO and take necessary steps TO defend
members In any legal proceedings. Their
statement expresses the opinion that
newspaper accounts Of Rockefellers tour
( Of mines in Southern Colorado will
create an erroneous impression in the
minds OF those unacquainted with exist
ing labor conditions in those fields. II
rocites that in calling the strike two
| years ago the Colorado miners sought to
establish the principle OF contract relR-
lions between employer and employe By
| collective bargaining; that to establish
this principle recognition must be con-
| ceded 10 a bona fide union OF mine
workers"
The statement then points out that the
United Mine Workers OF America " the
only such bona fide organization OF coal
miners in the country and recognized by
the American Federation OF Labor.
The committee takes issue with a pub
Iished statement by Rockefeller that the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company does
not care whether its employees are union
men or not" and says:
Charge OF DISCRIMINATION.
Since the strike was called off last
December. this company Colorado Fuel
and Iron company has steadfastly re-
fused TO re-employ men who are stu
affiliated with the union and we defy
Mr.. Rockefeller TO produce from his en-
tire working force in southern Colorado.
n dozen men who are members OF the
union"
The statemen says the miners " re-
personalities with whom Rockefeller has
conversed in the coal camps do not re
present the union Omitted Mine Workers
OF America), but an organization created
by the head officials OF the company and
Afterwards foisted upon the miners.
ITO demonstrate the impotency OF
such an organization TO establish
equitable conditions continued the
statement I'VE wish to point out that
some few months ago the company en-
forced reduction upon the miners OF
Fremont county of 10 cents per ton,
notwithstanding the fact that the men
had been asking for an increase Of
prices"
The statement says that despite Rookie
feller's recent announcement eight or
nine hundred members of our organiza-
ton have been refused employment by
the company. while others have been
discharged on some flimsy trumped up
pretext" and that the elements that led
to the revolt OF miners in southern Colo
RADIO still obtain"
Rockefeller Refuses Comment.
RoCKVAI-E. Colo. Sept E.-when
John d. Rockefeller, Jr.,'s attention was
called 70 a Denver Dispatch stating that
committee. representing the lnternR-
donal executive committee OF the United
Mine Workers Of America, would invite
him to a conference with q view to en-
tering into contract with the union, no
said
Il have received no invitation yet, ana
cannot very we'll accept or decline until
1t Is received. However. I have not vet
refused TO meet anyone. and do not in
tend to refuse TO meet anyone in the fti-
ture. You may consider that as my re-
ply"
MI Rockefeller refused to comment on
the charges OF discrimination contained
In tho committees statement
Talks with Union Miners.
conference on working conditions be-
tween John ID. Rockefeller, Jr., and a
grievance representative who avowed
himself former striker and still a NOM
Der OF the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea, was an incident OF Rockefeller's visit
to this camp. Rockville Il said by off,
ciais OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron COM
pany to be strong. union camp ana a
center OF socialism among employees
! As soon as Mr.. Rockefeller reached
kookVale he hunted up the two miners
representatives. Louis Carutti was the
nrst located. Some one asked Carutti n
ne was member OF the United Mine
Workers OF America.
n You bet am" Carutti replied. add.
ms that he went out on strike In Sem
TENDER 1914 but went to farming and
received no benefits from the union.