Memorandum on a Coal Miners Strike

Title

Memorandum on a Coal Miners Strike

Creator

Wilson, William Bauchop, 1862-1934

Identifier

WWP18117

Date

1913 October 23

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

MEMORANDUM for the PRESIDENT:
Referring to the Colorado Coal Miners strike situation:

On Tuesday afternoon I wired Mr. Ethelbert Stewart, who had been detailed by this Department to act as a conciliator in that strike, for a statement of the steps he had taken in an effort to adjust the difficulty. His reply follows:

“Your telegram received. I first called on Mr. Bowers, of Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, the dominant corporation getting from him his attitude toward the strike and its possible settlement. Then saw Governor Ammons for general view of situation, saw spokesman of operators in Governor’s office, then called upon local officers of Miners district fifteen. I went into the strike district with the Secretary of State and with State Commissioner of Labor to study conditions, met and interviewed Hayes and John Lawson at Trinidad and suggested that they offer to arbitrate the whole matter including recognition. They offered to arbitrate everything except recognition of Union. They contended that no settlement that did not include recognition would be of any final value. The operators had previously offered to let the Governor decide all other issues except recognition of Union. I interviewed Mine Superintendents and local miners in both strike districts, North and South, to satisfy myself as to the basis for the conviction among the men that without recognition no settlement would be permanent or satisfactory. Met District Attorneys, Sheriffs and business as to attitude of mine operators toward organization returning to Denver I submitted to mine managers in presence of the Governor three propositions.

First, that the managers of the mining properties involved in this dispute, hold a formal official conference with the officials of the miners’ organization, at any place the operators might suggest. Second, that the managers meet the Governor, and these men named as individuals not as Union officials, together with myself in the Governor’s office, in a purely informal way to talk the matter over such meeting to be unofficial not to commit anyone to any policy but simply to try in a gentlemen’s meeting to induce each side to consider the claims put forth by the other. Third, that the mine managers should deliver to me any counter proposition they might have to offer for me to submit to the miners. The operators refused both of the first two propositions and declined to submit any counter propositions. I had become convinced that the local mine managers were not empowered to settle except on terms dictated from New York and hence stated to them that I would report the facts and suggest that a congressional investigation be recommended. Following this I was summoned before the Federal Grand Jury in Pueblo and found that attorneys for the managers had urged a Grand Jury investigation presumably to head off a congressional investigation. I urged the Grand Jury not to investigate as it was an industrial conflict not a criminal conflict. Since there seemed to be no possibility of a settlement at this time I left the state. I will be in Washington next Sunday and will report to you in person on Monday.
Ethelbert Stewart.”
October 22, 1913...... 945 am”

The only part of the negotiations that is not included in this telegram is a trip Mr. Stewart made to New York to interview the Rockefeller interests there. At this interview he was informed that the New York office would not interfere with the situation unless requested to do so by their Colorado representatives. The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, which is generally recognized as the dominant corporation in the Colorado Coal Fields, is said to be controlled by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. I have, however, no definite information on that point. The officers and directors of the company are as follows:

President — J. F. Welborn.
Secretary and General Auditor — J. A. Writer.
Chairman of Board, Vice President and Treasurer,— L. M. Bowers.

Executive Committee:
L. M. Bowers, Chairman;
J. F. Welborn,
Joseph Chilbert,
S. G. Pierson
and F. P. Gates.
Directors:
H. E. Copper,
F. P. Gates,
George J. Gould,
J. D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
E. P. Jeffery,
J. H. McClement,
S. J. Murphy,
W. P. Ward,
Joseph Chilbert,
L. M. Bowers,
J. F. Welborn,
J. A. Writer.
(Moody’s Manual).
W B Wilson
Secretary.

Original Format

Memorandum

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00598.pdf

Citation

Wilson, William Bauchop, 1862-1934, “Memorandum on a Coal Miners Strike,” 1913 October 23, WWP18117, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.