Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-09
Seth Low, Charles W. Mills
and Patrick GiIday Submit
Findings on Conditions inI
Colorado Coal Mines,
INJUSTlCES TO LABOR
IN COURT ACTIONS
Rockefeller Properties Are Not
Discriminating Against For
mer Strikers and Wages
and Conditions Are Good,
l.r po-ana ,oosr.l srrclAl lr.stO ~lr.I

10y noHaino JOURNAL SPECIAL lnAsro ~iasI
Washington March RecOmmen- !
dalton that the federal trade commits Z
sion study the economic side OF coal
mining with "a view to steps toward
preventing waste and putting the in
dustry on basis giving maximum
safety and maximum steady employ
ment. Is made in the report Of Presi-
dent Wilson's special Colorado coal
strike commission.
The report was sent 10 congress by
the presldcn, today for It's information.
Seth Low, Of New York; Charles w
Mills Of Philadelphia, ana Patrick Gil
day, OF Clcarfleld, Pa composed the
commission.
The commission says the fact that
Of 400 indictments returned IN Colo
RADIO I'm connection with the strike
troubles all were against strikers has
left q fostering sore on public opin-
ion.
Unfair Treatment Suggested.
Some Of the citizens Of Colorado,
the report comments believe that
many Illegal acts were committed on
the part Of the operators and the JUS
tlce which finds all the indictments on
handed
your commission naturally express
ca no opinion as to the correctness Of
this belief. It simply calls attention TO
the existence Of this feeling. Again, II
is believed some even among the OPP
orators that IN many Of these cases
the state has not sufficient evidence 10
convict
Great Injusticcs Probable.
an such cases. and your commission
believes that there are such, the men
affected are suffering from great in
Justice in that they are either confined
In iails, unable to get bond, or II out
on bond. they are refused employment
Va Colorado on account OF the indict-
ments against them, and are prevent
cd from leaving Colorado or the 1uris-
diction at the court by their hondsmon.
"As long as this condition Of affairs
exists, the industrial health of Colo
RADIO viii be weakened by this fostering
sore. II Is not the business or your
commission to weigh the rights and
wrongs OF the case but we would tall
short Of our duty IL we did not eau
attention TO this feature OF the situa-
tion and emphasize the Importance to
tho state Of providing a prompt rem
cdy. Even in the interest Of the pub
JIG order this situation should be
quickly ended
Wages and Living Conditions.
A general endorsement was given TO
: wages, living conditions and education
al advantages i'm the Colorado field.
80 far as these mining conditions
are concerned they are IN many re-
spcctS as nearly ideal as it is pos
slhe to make them, but the coal is be-
ing mined under the competitive sys-
tenn in Colorado under conditions
which can make coal mining profitable
In the mines where the coal can be
placed ON the market more easily
Tho commission says the most serl-
= Gus drawahck to the prosperity of the
= coal industry in Colorado Is the short
q age OF industries IN the state TO con-
e sumo the smaller sizes Of coal and
? slack which might keep the mines in
continuous operation throughout the
year
4 Two Striking Developments.
3 "Out Of the recent coal strike IN
u Colorado" the report says, two
things have strlkingly emcrgcd-the
peculiar power granted by the state to
p IT'S Industrial commission and the Colo
4 RADIO Fuel 4 Iron companys plan put
- for regulating 10y contract the rola'
;, tons between the corporation and lis
~ cnlploNcs"
cl The plan referred TO is one pro-
n posed by John II. Rockefeller, Jr., az.
ter his visit TO the mines last fall
(which recognizes the trade union RICH
I to organize. The report says that Tho
company Is operating the plan with en-
tire good faith bat the real test %
It viii not come until January 1918
when "a new contract Is to bo drawn.
ii No Discrimination
AN the operators the report con
!. tinues, maintain that they are en-
~ ploving mon and non-union mel
IN without discrimination ON account o
A. the strike Broadly speaking, you
,, committee says this statement is cor
rect though there are doubtless SOM
individuals who are not employed be
~ cause. as individuals, for one rcasol
% or another they are not wanted o
elise that they are undesirable IN tina
ls they cannot DE depended upon 70
a. continuous service
le "The Colorado Fuel a Iron com
ls puny i'm the Fremont county field, ha
ground that with Il 'hyEoncs shall b
of hygones' and that il win employ strill
IS ers who are under indictment. judgin
Is them by their future rather than thei
he past, and we believe il would be
&c. worry happy solution and have a ten
To dcncv To accomplish much for peac
T. and harmony NJ all the operator
would take the same position
10 Time Heals Trouble.
Fear of discrimination, said TO b
M entertained ly tho miners In the Trim
dad and Walsenhurg districts, tn