Denver labor bulletin., 1916-08-05
Great Revival Now on in
the Southern Coal Zone
President McLennan and Organizer
Peter German Hold Open Air
Meeting Sunday at Scene
of Strikes Tragic
Event

One thousand coal miners assembled
on the grounds OF the former Ludlow
tent colony last Sunday at the most
unique open air meeting ever held in
southern Colorado. They came from all
the mines in that vicinity with the ex-
ception of those owned by the Victor
American Fuel company. which worked
its mines Sunday for the first time on
record to prevent the employees of that
company attending the rleetine.
Printed notices had been posted at all
the mine openings two days previous by
the men themselves, announcing the
meeting at Ludlow, and other than the
Victor American, there was no opposi-
tiou shown by mine owners or superin-
tendents, and the men went to the open
air meeting without molestation iron
any quarter.
No Strike Contemplated.
President John AlcLennan OF District
Is, L. NJ W. OF A, and of the State
Federation OF labor, and General Organ
izer Peter German OF Ohio, who was sent
to Colorado recently by the United Mine
Workers officials at request of the min
ers in Las Animas county, addressed the
meeting. They did not lambast the mine
owners nor the Rockefellers, eonfining
their remarks to the benefits to be de-
rived thru trade union organization and
affiliation with the United Mine Work.
ers OF America. Both speakers impressed
the big assemblage that no strike was
contemplated or anticipated, and that
they were there at the urgent request of
the miners employed in that vicinity.
After the speaking there was grand
rush to sign application blanks to join
the union. Soon all the printed blanks
on hand were exhausted and names were
written upon plain blank paper. Prac-
tically all miners at the meeting made
application to JOIN the union.
Taking Rockefeller at Word.
Most OF those in attendance We're en-
ployes OF the Colorado Fuel i Iron COM
pany mines and the men were evidently
taking young John Rockefeller at his
word when he stated during his Colorado
visit that no objection would be raised
to employees OF the company joining the
union if they so desired. At any rate,
they have concluded to do so. as evil
denced at the remarkable meeting last
Sunday.
There are about 1000 coal miners EN-.
ployed in Las Animas county and 1000
in Huerfano county, scene of the most
tragic events of the late coal strike 1t
is believed practically all of these will
0
Workers OF America and make District
Is one of the strongest in the great or
ganization.
Anxious to Join Union.
Scores of union miners from the East
came to Colorado when the strike was
called off an they have, not had much
| trouble in convincing others that the
union was their only hope for permanent
| betterments. With the war in Europe.
it would be impossible to secure another
outfit of strikebreakers in case the mine
owners wanted to resist the movement
now under way. After twenty years OF
strife, Colorado coal miners,are about to
reap a great victory, according to opin-
ions expressed by officials on the ground.
Apply for New Charter.
The new charters for local unions in
Las Animas county were applied for dur
/ ing the last week. Since the movement
/ started the following camps have been
organized; Sopris, Piedmont and Stark.
| vile, near Trinidad; Berwini. Tobasco.
Rainevine and Tollerburg. near Ludlow.
Requests have been received AZ the Dis
trict offices from the miners OF Huer-
fano county for an organizer to re sent
/ there. Recently a new local was Formed,
over in Routt county.
There is no intention of calling a
strike said President McLeunan. "rhe
| miners have asked to be organized as
] regular union men, and we are complying
with their requests. In short time we
expect to have the counties of Las An,
imas and Huerfano thoroly unionized 50
far as the coal miners are concerned"