DATE: 04/01/2016
LOCATION: Del Aqua Canyon Road, Ludlow, Las Animas
County, Colorado
MARKER #: 85001328
DEDICATED: June 19, 1985
“Ludlow Tent Colony Site has been designated a National
Historic Landmark This site possesses
national significance in illustrating the history of the United States of
America”
MARKER PLACED
BY: National Park Service United States Department
of the Interior
PERSONAL
REFLECTIONS:
I had a tough time with this historical site. I come from a
Union family and I understand what Unions have gained for the American worker.
That being said, spending 30+ years in State Service, most of those in a supervisory
or managerial role, the Union has soured me. While I firmly believe Unions were
needed at one time in America, whether they are needed these days is something I
really struggle with.
Doing the research on this site, I found myself constantly looking
for the “ulterior motive” of the Union. Yet, time and time again, I was
reminded that although the Union’s side is certainly going to come down with the
company being the “bad guy’…archeological evidence also sides with the Union.
That’s not to say the Union did not do things to incite the situation, but
maybe that was what was needed.
In 1912, Colorado had a death rate among miners of 7.055 per
1,000 employees compared to a national average of 3.15.
September 1913, miners went on strike against the Colorado
Fuel & Iron Corporation, owned by the Rockefeller family and Standard Oil,
protesting low pay, dangerous working conditions and the companies interference
and influence on every part of their lives. Think “company town”.
The miners and their families were immediately evicted from
the company owned shacks.
The United Mine Workers Union brought in tents and they were
raised all over the foothills nearby, and the miners continued to strike. The
land had been leased by the union and was a strategic move. Tents were place
near the mouths of the canyon where non-union workers, called “scabs”, would
have to pass to get to work and were constantly harassed by the striking
workers and their families.
The Rockefellers/Standard Oil guys had to escalate the
situation since eviction alone didn’t stop the strike.
“Private detectives” were hired to supposedly protect the new
workers but also to harass the miners. When they attacked the tent colonies.
The miners fought back and some were killed. The detectives would randomly fire
into the tents at night or circle the tent colony with a machine gun mounted on
the car. They called this the “Death Special”. In order to protect their wives
and children, many miners had dug pits under the tents.
The Rockefellers then approached the Governor who approved the
use of the National Guard. The strikers thought the National Guard was there to
protect them but quickly learned they were brought in to break the strike. As
time went on, National Guardsmen left to return to their regular jobs and the
State agreed to replace the guards with some of the “private detectives” with
the Rockefellers paying the wages.
On April 20, 1914, two companies of the National Guard
attacked the largest of the tent colonies, home to about 1,000 men, women and children.
It started with the National Guard shooting directly at the
tents early in the morning. The miners fought back and one of the leaders of
the strike was killed while negotiating a truce.
It was thought it would be better for the woman and children to
go into the pits dug beneath the tents….they would be safe there.
At dusk, the Guard set fire to the tents, shooting at the
families as they ran into the hills.
But the real tragedy was found the next day when a pit was
uncovered and there was the bodies of 11 children and 2 woman.
The “massacre” outraged Americans but really didn’t do
anything for the plight of the miners. Federal troops were brought in and
finally the strike was broken without any gains for the miners in December
1914.
In the end, 66 men, women and children died during the
“Colorado Coalfield War”. Over 400 miners were arrested with 332 indicted for
murder and only 1 man, a leader of the strike was convicted. That conviction
was overturned by the Colorado Supreme Court. Twenty-two National Guardsmen, including
10 officers, were court-martialed. All of these were acquitted except one
lieutenant convicted of assault. He received a light reprimand. So really, no
one was held accountable, on either side, for the violence that lasted over a year.
But, the massacre did cause congress to ask for an
investigation and was instrumental in the implementation of child labor laws
and the eight hour work day. In addition, Rockefeller had reforms developed,
including worker representation and no discrimination against union workers. Did
he do this out of the goodness of his heart? Having seen the light? Nah, he did
it to rehabilitate his own reputation.
“On April 20, 19114, the State Militia unleased an unwarranted
attack on striking coal miners and their families living in a tent colony at
this site. Eleven children and two woman suffocated in a cellar beneath a tent
when flames engulfed the overhead shelter. Militia rifle and machine gun fire
claimed the lives of at least 5 strikers, an 11 year old boy, and an 18 year
old passerby.
The unexpected attack was the fateful climax of miners
attempting to achieve freedom from oppression at the hands of coal company
officials. Miners were forced to live in company owned camps, buy from company
owned stores, and educate their children in company dominated schools. Miners
worked unduly long hours under hazardous conditions for meager pay.
On Sept. 23, 1913, miners struck in protest of these
conditions, calling for recognition of the United Mine Workers Union.
Eventually, the alleged peace keeping militia became infiltrated with company
gunmen, leading to this – The Ludlow Massacre.
UMWA L.U. 9856, Dist. 15”
(Please keep in mind the above was written solely by the UMWA and may or may not take into account accurate descriptions of the siege and attacks…although, as I state before, archeological findings do give credence to their side of the story)
:)
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