The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-01

New York, Feb. John X. Lawson,
executive board member for Colorado OF
the United Mine Workers OF America,
who on Friday denounced conditions in
the Colorado mining camps in his testl-
mony before the federal Industrial rela-
tons commission and sharply arraigned
John ID. Rockefeller, ir., for his alleged
failure to inform himself as 70 condi
tions there, continued his testimony SAT-
urday.
"There is no social life in the camps"
Mr.. Lawson said. "The companies own
all the houses, ground, schools, churches
and stores. Complete despotism exists in
the mining camps"
Mr.. Lawson read into the record a
long list of the various accidents in coal
mines and list of the men killed by
violence in the Colorado mining camps
in 1913. This was done, he said, so that
the commission might know how many
widows and fatherless children they were
in Colorado "And they get an average
of 1905. 40 if the father and husband is
Killed" he said. "What can they do in
life with $305.40? What chance have
they got?" Men worked in the mines,
the witness said, because they were
forced, not because they wanted to.
'1f they complain, it is down the can,
Won for theirs,' he said. "And if the
man who does work is hurt he is taken
to a company hospital. If he dies, a
company coroner conducts the inquest
over the body. As long as | can remem-
Der only two yerdiets unfavorable to the
Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. have been
found The coroners have a habit of Civ
ing verdict of suicide OF death due to
carelessness. One coroner wrote in a
certain case that the victim of an accf-
dent had mo relatives and damned few
friends"
No coal miner, Mr.. Lawson said, has
ever shirked his duty in protecting life
and the interests of the operators. The
only recreation the men have, he said, rs
in the company's saloons. They are not
allowed to attend meetings of fraternal
orders to which they might otherwise be-
long. Company detectives and gunner
constantly spy on the men to see that
they do not get together. This applied
to the camps where there were no I'M
ions.
In union camps, Mr.. Lawson testified,
conditions were entirely different. The
University of Colorado. he said, had
promised the United Mine Workers of
America that it would extend its work
into the coal camps so that the men
might have an opportunity TO educate
themselves. In the non union camps
there was occasionally dance, but no
other amusements or recreations.
Mr.. lawson called the commissions at
tcntion TO a statement which he said
was made by John ID. Rockefeller. ir.,
April @, 1914, in which Mr.. Rockefeller
was quoted as saying that the Colorado
Fuel & Iron Co. would never recognize
the United Mine Workers of America
and that it was a fight TO the finish.
1.-TWO weeks after that. 10 the day
came Ludlow" Mr.. Lawson said Il do
not know whether there was any connec-
tion between these two things. / hope
not. A man like Mr.. Rockefeller should
be careful Of the things he says, how
ever"
Referring 10 his visit Friday to Mr.
Rockefeller. jr.. where the witness also
met w. I. Mackenzie King. Mr. lawson
said; II went as one citizen would 90 90
see another ! did not call upon Mr.
Rockefeller in any official capacity" Mr..
lawson said that he had discussed condi.
tions IN Colorado in general and that
the conversation was pleasant lie had
suggested 20 Mr.. Rockefeller that be
meet some Of the international officers
and discuss the situation.
Mr.. Lawson thought il was a mistake
on the part Of organized labor 20 re-elect
union officials who had been convicted Of
violence or the use OF dynamite. The
witness read a list Of the laws Of Col.
orado which he said the corporations in
that state had violated. The let includ-
cd laws providing for weighmen. an
eight hour day and the right 10 join la
Dor organizations
Commissioner Weinstock read a notice
distributed BY the United Mine Workers
Of America calling upon the mine work.
ers % form into companies and arm
themselves. Re asked The witness N
that action did not constitute defiance
Of the laws II Colorado or. being q call
10 arms, a reteili0u.
THAT u no violation of thc law" Mr..
Lawson replied ~ defS anyone b. prove
that us violated the law III ms neigh
Dor called o. me- and asked NJ 30 rrt