The Raymer enterprise., 1919-01-30
ROCKEFELLER
BRINGS PEACE


be an innovation to place the follow
ing in print taken from the Rocky
Mountain News OF last Saturday,
January. 25th The article s as fol-
lows:
Tribute to John d. Rockefeller. Jr.,
for his activities IN the coal camps
of southern Colorado respecting the
interests Of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company. was paid by Senator
Samuel DeBusk of Las Animas coun-
ty at an informal conference OF the
Senate and House military commit
tees with Adjutant General Frank
d. Baldwin yesterday at the capitol.
Senator DeBusk Is a democrat. He
has consistently championed meas
ures indorssd by labor organizations.
and is sponsor for bill before the
present legislature aiming at the
abolishment OF the department OF
safety, or what is known as the state
constabulary. Labor interests have
opposed the constabulary from the
start.
The joint meeting was called for a
discussion OF three bills having to do
with maintenance OF the Colorado
National Guard,
One OF the bills calls for Che erec-
tion OF state armories at Denver.
Colorado Springs and Trinidad. for
the housing Of troops and equipment.
In the discussion which came up
in reference TO the proposed Trinidad
armory the remark was casually
dropped by one OF those present that
most OF Colorado's labor troubles in
the last ten years seem to have had
their source in the Trinidad dis
lrict."
The remark was resented by Sena-
tor DeBusk, and he rose to refute it.
Gentlemen" the senator said, r
object to the implication that the
district which represent is 4 re-
gion OF trouble. Our people are no
different from your people; our
wives and daughters are like your
wives and daughters.
"This insinuation which | hear
every now and then that the people
OF the southern coal mining districts
of the state are inferior to. or more
troublesome than. other inhabitants
fthe state. is getting mighty hard
to listen to. Our troubles in Trini-
dad in past years have come moatly
from nonresident landlords. who OPP
Grated industries In our section but
did not live among us.
Il am Happy to say that for the
last five years We have had no dis
turbance down there. We have been
honored and benefited by several
visits from John d. Rockefeller. Jr
He. for one, has seemed to under
stand our people and our problems.
.Since he came into the coal fields
things have not been taken so much
for granted as they were under long
istanced- management. He has not
been satisfied to take the reports of
Office heads as all-sufficient for his
guidance. but has kept in personal
uch>with our people. Since that
policy has been pursued everything
has worked along nicely.
Il remember the time when every
coal camp in my district was petty
despotism In each Of the camps a
socalled peace Office held undisputed
sway. Whenever a stranger came in
who was deemed undesirable he
WAS told TO go on his way. A miner
coming to look for work might find
himself confronted with unexplain-
ell orders giving him so many hours
to leave.
But things are different now For
five years you have not heard OF any
one being compelled to take comRry
scrip or to trade at company stores.
Il do not believe these camps will
ever go back to the old system Of
petty despotisms. Six years ago no
tices were posted up that company
officials must not take public part in
political affairs. Officials of the coal
companies have faithfully lived up
TO the regulation.
II believe Rockefeller is good
man and that no is working earnest
ly to bring capital and labor togeth-
or. Since he came, our people have
better homes. better schools. new
churches and better living conditions
in every way.
"War gardens have been planted
an a stimulus given to civic spirit.
You would be surprised to see how
people OF dozen different national
tiles have been Americanized thru
the sociological efforts instituted.
Our farms are alive with bright,
healthy children, who are Being
taught Americanism and being made