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Coal Wars: Colorado

Background.

The labor woes in the latter stages of the 19th and early 20th century in Colorado were highlighted in the coalfields throughout the state. Powerful mining companies such as

United Mine Workers begun to combat these companies. The struggles lasted for decades, while violence occasionally occurred it did not make national news until violence erupted in a small southern Colorado town named Ludlow
.

Early Unionism

In 1873,

Coal Creek decided to lower wages from $1.50 to $1.25 per ton, which resulted in the first strike of southern Colorado coalfields[1]. Wages and rates accounted for 60 to 80 percent of the cost of manufacturing coal[2]. Unrest gradually increased even brewing into violence between employees and authorities[3]

It wasn’t until the Knights of Labor, who began to help organize the coalminers throughout Colorado between 1884 and 1885. The next move by the companies was unprecedented. Spearheaded by Colorado Coal and Iron, coal companies joined forces in shutting down these strikes by hiring cheap labor for the fraction of the cost.

Companies began to reduce the price of coal as well as limit production because of the

The Bituminous Coal Miners' Strike of 1894.The strikes in Colorado were met with fierce punishment from the operators. In New Castle,those that had been on strike for over 3 months were forced to accept a 30% decrease of wages for the three months they were on strike[7] However, a new resolution put the employees back on old wages and they agreed not to strike for at least another year[8]
.

United Mine Worker's Era

In 1890 the United Mine Workers of America that became the voice of mine workers during strikes[9]. In Fremont County strikers began threatening non-strikers who continued to work rather than picket[10]. In May of 1894 the strikers were moving towards Rouse camp[11] According to the Huerfano Journal “would be the largest coal camp in Colorado"[12]. The UMW demanded the employees to be paid in cash(rather than company scripts), choose the men that monitored their work, and recognition of the union[13]. Rather than comply, companies just hired men that did not join unions. Strikes were extensive at times, miners would give him and return back to work.Those that continued to strike were once again greeted with stiff opposition, and this time from the highest official from the state. Governor David Waite ordered U.S. Marshall's to disrupt these gatherings and even have men arrested[14]. On August 2nd, 1894 miners in Florence Colorado, employees decided with a vote of 191 to 145 to end the strike and return back to work[15].

Most of these men who worked for the companies lived on company grounds which were known as closed camps.These were properties bought, rent and leased on company ground to employees[16]. Men were not earning enough to be able to purchase property outside of company territories. For the employers,this was viewed camps as a good way of having men near by that could work at a moments notice.This aspect of having employees so close together helped employees unionize and start to picket on company grounds[17]. Employers tried shutting down these rallies by notifying authorities and forcing men to surrender, as they did in Cripple Creek[18]

By the early 20th century,

John Mitchell had a strike against Rockefeller's Colorado Fuel and Iron because of the issue of safety and wage issues[21][22]. The northern Colorado operators tried to prevent the strike by agreeing to nearly all the terms besides the eight-hour-workday; the employees rejected this resolution and were adamant in having all their demands met [23]. However by, November 28, a vote that passed by a wide margin, 483-130, and to return back to work since many of the miners felt that most of their demands were met[24]

Ludlow Massacre

By 1913, conditions had not improved greatly since the last major strike in the state. Safety conditions were still very poor and miners were dying on the job.The UMW and Western Federation of Miners prepared their move for another strike.Tension was at boiling pointy when a union organizer was murdered.This brought the union closer together and anthem for all Colorado miners was born, The Colorado Strike Song[25][26].

John R. Lawson an international board member of the UMW illustrated seven demands that they pushed for.These demands varied, from having the union recognized, an eight-hour work day, and having their own men check the weights of the coal, as they felt company men were being unjust in their counting methods[27]. Without complying with these demands a strike was emanate.This would transform into a much larger strike in the state. Counties such as, Las Animas, Huerfano, Routt County, Crested Butte started the strike on September 21, 1913, over 11,000 miners went on strike, that resulted in a loss of millions of dollars[28][29]. Companies forcefully removed families from their homes that were on strike, some homes were even burned down[30]. Those that were forced out and remained in Colorado moved into union settlements called tent colonies.There colonies were funded by the union. Unions supported families financial but were very limited in their finances, men would receive three dollars a week, women one, and each child would receive fifty cents per week[31]

Peace talks were slatted for November 1913 in Colorado’s capitol building. Archie Allison, David Hamman and T.X. Evans represented the union.

John Chase to deploy the National Guard in the case of violence who were already prepared for[35]. Leaders were arrested and charged for “conspiracy to restrain” trade as well as to have deploy strikebreakers[36]. Strikers were always under the threat of militiamen and the National Guard[37]
.

Interrogations became the normal for anybody that was in these strike zones that was associated with the union. In a small town located in Las Animas named Ludlow, was in one of these strike zones. There was occasional violence in this town

President Wilson ordered army troops to be deployed in the areas with the most unrest[41]. The strike would end in December of 1914 after the UMW convention in Pueblo was held. President Wilson had sent mediators that would try to make for the unions and operators[42][43]. After fifteen months the strike was finally over. The aftermath of the event saw Governor Ammons condemned by the his own senate for his poor judgment on handling the strike[44]. Rockefeller who owned majority of these grounds and CF&I denied any wrong doing[45]
. The blame was thrown on both sides with neither taking responsibility.

Notes

  1. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  2. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  3. ^ "Riotous Striking Mines: A Fight With Sheriff's Posse In Which Seven Are Wounded"New York Times Company,13 Dec , 1891, p.3
  4. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  6. ^ "Gigantic Miners' Strike Ordered"- New York Times, 12, April 1894, p.8
  7. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  8. ^ "Colorado Miners Want to Go to Work and Agree Not to Strike for a Year"- Chicago Daily Tribune, 30, Sept, 1894, p9
  9. ^ "A Brief History of the UMWA". United Mine Workers of America. Retrieved 12/13/2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ Front Page, New York Times Company, 26 May 1894
  11. ^ Band of Strikers Gathers at Rouse to Compel a Stoppage, Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 May, 1894.
  12. ^ "This week in History for August 28, 2014". This week in History for August 28, 2014. Huerfano World Journal. September 4, 2014. Retrieved December 14,2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  14. ^ "The Pullman strike, 1894 - Jeremy Brecher". The Pullman strike, 1894 - Jeremy Brecher. Libcom.org. Jun 23 2013. Retrieved 12/14/2014. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  15. ^ "TO BE CALLED OFF: The Pullman Strike Near an End" San Francisco Chronicle, 2, August, 1894. p.2
  16. ^ Andrews, Thomas Franklin. Killing for Coal: America's Deadliest Labor War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Page 187.
  17. ^ "Quiet In Colorado Camp.: Both Sides Waiting for the Visit of the Governor at Altman." New York Times, 30 May 1894. p.1
  18. ^ "Keeping The Peace": San Francisco Chronicle, 9,June 1894, p.1
  19. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  20. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  21. ^ "Colorado Fuel & Iron Strike.: Battle Between John Mitchell and the Rockefellers.", Wall Street Journal, 11 November 1903, p.2
  22. ^ "The Coal Strike in Colorado" Dow Jones & Company Inc, 13,November, 1903, p.1
  23. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  24. ISBN 1278515178
    .
  25. ^ "Ludlow Massacre Sources". CSU Pueblo Library Research Guide. CSU Pueblo Library Research. September 5,2013. Retrieved 12/14/2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  26. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tft79_HeKmk
  27. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  28. ^ "COLORADO COAL STRIKE COST" Wall Street Journal. October 22nd, 1913. p.1
  29. ^ "District 15 Miners to Strike" The Baltimore Sun. September 17, 1913. p.7
  30. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  31. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  32. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  33. ^ "Wilson Seeking to End Strike"- San Francisco Chronicle, 28, November 1913, p.5
  34. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  35. ^ "General Chase in Command" Los Angeles Times, 29, Oct, 1913. p.1
  36. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  37. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  38. ^ "Battle at Colorado Mine", The Washington Post, 9 Oct, 1913, p.5
  39. ^ "ADMITS MILITIAMEN KILLED PRISONERS", New York Times, 15, May, 1914, p.6
  40. ^ 26 Mine War Toll, The Washington Post, 22, April, 1914,p.12
  41. ^ "Wilson Will Send Troops To Strike Zones", The Atlanta Constitution, 27 April, 1914, p.2.
  42. ^ Demands End of Strikes, Washington Post. September 8, 1914, p.3.
  43. ISBN 978-0-674-03101-2
    .
  44. ^ Colorado Senate Condemns Ammons, New York Times, 8 May,1914.
  45. ^ "Union Side of Mine War Told to Rockefeller", Chicago Daily Tribune, 28, September 1915.p.7
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