The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-26
Colorado, the
Realm of the
ROCkefellers

industry is the huge steel mill OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company,
the same Rockefeller concern that
dominates the coal industry here. 1t
claims 10000 inhabitants and is listed
in the atlas as an independent
municipality, but did not encounter
single person among the many to
whom | spoke during my visit there
who showed this illusion. "The G. F.
and l" is omnipresent and, in popu-
lar opinion, omnipotent in Pueblo. 1t
is the largest steel plant west OF
| Chicago and employs about 5000 men.
1t squats over the town like an ugly
and menacing monster, watching,
ruling and regulating everything. No
feudal lord ever exercized more ar
bitrary power over human lives than
does this awesome company of the
Rockefellers which everybody calls by
it's initials, "The G. F. L." Thousands
grow up, work out their lives and die
without ever being free from the fear
and terror of its vindictiye power.
A PUBLIC meeting of such an or
n ganization as the International
Labor Defense is big event in
Pueblo, for the little band of courage
Gus comrades who organize it as well
as for the company. The C. F. & /.
never sleeps and never gets careless
regarding the possible outcome of
radical speeches. A large part of my
audience consisted of company gun
men, spies and officials who came TO
watch and to intianidate, to impress
the workers with their determined
opposition to such meetings and to
take down the names of those daring
to attend.
THE rule of the c. F. & /. is not
confined to it's 5000 employees dur
ing working hours. 1t pervades the
whole life of the community, utilizing
various methods and institutions. 1t
has it's officials directly elected to the
School Board and puts Company
men" in other public office without
much camouflage. There is a big
company store, company church, a
,, company Y. M. C. A., and company
hospital. All have plenty of Gus
toners. There is even special
Christian Endeavor layout conducted
in Spanish to serve the spiritual needs
of the Mexican workers along COM
pany lines.
THE company hospital is an impos-
ing edifice and is an object of
company pride. The hospital, was
told, has IS nurses and q doctors and
: number of other things which |
have forgotten. The Pueblo plant is
called the 'Minnequa" Steel Works,
and the company hospital bears the
same euphonious Indian name.
asked the man who was showing me
around to tell me the meaning of this
e Indian word "Minnequa." ''It means"
: he said, imam, be quiet!"
tcTHE Steel Works ~ keeps 'em
young and spryr is the snappy
slogan on poster advertising the
efficacy of the gymnasium as a
means of keeping the joints from
getting rusty during slack time and
) lay-offs. 1t is reported or rumored
that the Rockefellers have endowed
many "Ys" and other institutions of
but they made the workers in the
Minnequa plant pay for their own.
: Every man in the plant had to donate
! a days wages to the building of the
j. company Y. M. c. A. If they don't
Q go and get their moneys worth Of
$ exercise, it's their own fault.
IN this Realm of the Rockefellers a
group of comrades carry on their
{. work with fortitude and perseverance
d that is a real inspiration to see. The
j. head and front of the group is a
: woman, the wife of a steel worker,
h whose name | will not mention.
e Nothing daunts her. Through poverty,
It terrorism, the menace of the blacklist,
; threats of violence and prosecution,
I she goes on with her work, with de-
o meanor unruffled and faith I'M
s dimmed. Company spies and thugs
a quail before her. We rode around
"a town with her in an automobile be-
longing to her family to see this and
q that comrade whom she had on her
i list for visitation and prodding up.
! She was unable to drive, although the
: car had been in the family a long
q time, and Comrade Showan took the
: wheel. asked her why she didn't
!, learn to drive and she answered with
: a trace of confusion, II guess am
: afraid"
!. AS contribution to the campaign
!, a Of the party to get the members
- to vote and take part in the cleo
tions ! offer the story told me by a
q Pueblo Comrade, who said he has been
: voting since he was 16 years old.
4 Il had come from the old country
: and was working in the coal mines
= of Colorado" he said, when the