COLORADO'S STRIKE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2138, 2 May 1914, Page 5

COLORADO'S STRIKE WAR

ANTI-ROCKEFELLER PROTESTS

UPTON SINCLAIR GOES TO PRISON By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright New York, April 30. Sir. Upton Sinclair, the author, and several of the women who wero arrested while taking part in a demonstration against Mr. J. D. Rockefeller's attitude towards tho Colorado strikers, refused to pay small fines wliich wore imposed upon them, and wero sent to gaol for three days. Mr. Sinclair declared that he. was on the vergo of a physical breakdown, but ■would rather go to gaol and declaro a hunger-strike than pay the fine. Mourners still parade in front of tho Standard Oil building.

TROOPS IN DENVER. ORDER NOW RESTORED. (Rec. Slay 1, "10.40 p.m.) I New York, April 30. Tho Federal troops have arrived at Denver and restored order. It is now behoved. that there will bo no further trouble. Tho Southern Colorado coal-fields arc locatcd in the vicinity of Trinidad. They aro leased and operated by tlio Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, tho Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, and tho Victor American Fuel Company. Altogether they employ about twenty-five thousand men, for the most part Greeks, Italians, Slavs, and Mexicans, only nineteen per cent, being English-speaking people. A small percentage were members of the union, but officers of the United Mine Workers of America came into the district and rapidly orgaused tho camps. Approximately one-half of the men became affiliated with the organisation. Tho following demands were made of the operators:—The right to check woighmen selected l>y the miners themselves: tho. right to trade at stores other than company stores without molestation; a bi-weekly pay day and tlio abolition of scrip payment; "bettor working conditions; recognition of the union; ten per cent, advance in wages. After moro or less fruitless negotiations, a strike was called to take effect on. September 27. The .operators at once employed guards to protect their property. Theso men were nearly all furnished •by the BaldwiuPhelts Agency, somo of'whom had been for years similarly employed in other strikes. Somo, of tho. miners had participated n the same strkos; thus old antagonisms were brought into a situation sufficiently delicate without them. The coal-fields are in tho front raiigo of foothills to tho east of the Rocky, Mountains. Tho camps are located in the narrow valleys and/gorges between tho hills. The strikers' tent colouie'3 are as near their old places of employment as possible. Guards were placed at all company property and in rifle pits in tho adjacent hills. They were equiped with tho very best riiles, machine guns, and searchlights. The strikers were in possession of many privately-owned rifles, shotguns, arid.revolvers. One man confessed to supplying four hundred men with guns. Some evidence of other consignments of guns has como to light. During tho first montlfof tho strike numerous battles took placo between the strikers and the mine guards, in which several men wero killed on both sides and some buildings burned or otherwif; destroyed. The real bono of contention is recogni-. tion of tha union. It was evidently for the purpose, of adding this district to its domain that the United Mino Workers of j America sent its officers there. Tho union officers demand that the mines bo closed to all non-union men ; that the dues, fines, etc., be collected through the Office; that tlio men aro 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 tho union is not incorporated. They assert further that the refusal to join a union does not disqualify a man from becoming an employeo of tho mines. This strike is demonstrating (says the mining companies, or other corporations, "Outlook") tho criminal folly of allowing to police a whole district wtli irresponsible professonal guards. It is the belief of many that thero would have been less disorder and destruction of oroperty if the situation had been left to tho ordinary police powers of ho. State. The worst passions of the strikers are aroused by the very presence of these men on accouniof their participation in other strikes, notably tho recent one in West Virgina. '