CAPITAL AND CRIME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13373, 6 May 1914, Page 3

CAPITAL AND CRIME.

ATTACKS ON ROCKEFELLER.

WOMAN'S THREAT TO SHOOT,

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, May 5

A question arose m the Senate as to accepting Mr Rockefeller's grant to aid farm demonstration work. Senator Lane moved : "That the grant be rejected, as the money is covered with the blood and tears of Colorado women." Other Senators supported Senator Lane, bitterly criticising Mr Rockefeller. The Senate adjourned without decision. Mourners still parade outside MiRockefeller's offices m New York. Tried on a charge of disorderly conduct outside Mr Rockefeller's office, Marie Gang declared to the Court that she would shoot Mr Rockefeller like a dog if she were able to gain entrance to his offices. The Southern Colorado coal-fields are located m the vicinity of Trinidad. They are leased and operated by the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, and the Victor American Fuel Company. Altogether they employ about 25,000 men, for the most part Greeks, Italians, Slavs and Mexicans, only 13 per cent, being English-speaking people. A small percentage were members of the union, but officers of the United Aline Workers of America came into the district and rapidly organised the camps. Approximately one-half of the men became, affiliated with the organisation. The following demands were made of the operators:— The right to check weighmen selected by the miners themselves; ' the right to trade at stores other than company stores without molestation; a bi-weekly pay day and the abolition of scrip payment; better working | conditions; recognition of the' union; 10 per cent, advance m wages. After more or less fruitless negotiations, a strike was called' to take effect on September. 27th. The operators at once employed guards to protect their property. These men j were nearly all furnished by the Ball-win-Phelts Agency, some of whom had been for years similarly employed m \ other strikes. Some of the miners had participated m the same strikes; thus old antagonisms were brought Into a situation sufficiently delicate without them. The coal-fields are m the front range of I foothills to the east of the Rocky Mountains. The camps are located m the narrow valleys and gorges, between the I hills. The strikers' tent colonies are as near ' their old places of employment as possible. Guards were placed at all company property v and m the rifle pits m the adjacent hills. They were •' equipped with the very best rilles, machine guns, and searchlights. ■ The strikers were m possession of many privately-owned rifles, shotguns, and revolvers, one man confessed to supplying 400 men ,with guns. Some evidence of other consignments of guns has come to light. During the first month of the strike numerous battles took place between the strikers and the mine guards, m which several men were killed on both sides and some buildings burned or otherwise destroyed.

The real bone of contention is recognition of the union, it was. evidently for the purpose of adding this district to its domain that the United Mine Workers of America sent Its officers there. The union officers demand that the mines be closed ,to all non-union men; /that the dues, fines, etc., be collected through the office; that the men are to work under contract made by operators and unions. The operators claim that this would occasion a great deal of tedious and trying detail, and that a contract with the union would not be binding, as the union is not incorporated. They assert further that the refusal \o join a union does not disqualify a man i rpm becoming an employee of the mines'. . •

This strike is demonstrating (says the Outlook) the criminal folly of allowing mining companies, or other corporations, to police a whole district witn irresponsible professional guards. It is the belief of many- that, there --would have been less disorder and destruction of property if the situation bad been left to the ordinary police powers of the State. .The worst passions of tne strikers are aroused by the very presence of these men on account of their participation m other strikes, notably the recent one ta West Virginia.