Case Study: Understanding Historical Actors with a focus on John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Ludlow Massacre

Transcription

1 Lili Van Zanten Summer Institute for Teachers Rockefeller Archives 07/01/11 Case Study: Understanding Historical Actors with a focus on John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Ludlow Massacre 1. Essential Question: o To what extent are historical actors agents of change and to what extent are they changed by events? o To what extent are our actions determined by our circumstances and to what extent can we chart our own course? 2. Student Objectives: o Know the timeline of events surrounding the Ludlow Massacre as well as the involvement of John D. Rockeller, Jr. and others in these events o Understand that viewpoints of historical actors can evolve over time and in relation to historical events 3. Connection to Curriculum: o Lesson designed for 8 th grade American History o Unit: Industrialization / Progressive Reform 4. Activities for Students: o Review the characters involved in the Ludlow Massacre and a timeline of the events. o Respond to a series of primary source document organized around the timeline o Working in groups, students will chart Rockefeller s evolving reaction to the Ludlow crisis and consider what influenced his views and actions 5. Resources: o Chernow, Ron. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. New York: Vintage Books, o Selected documents from the Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) 6. Assessment: o Students will complete group questions on documents in class o Students will complete individual summative questions for homework

2 Name Case Study: Understanding Historical Actors with a focus on John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Ludlow Massacre Question: To what extent are actions determined by our circumstances and to what extent can we chart our own course? You and your investigative team will consider this question as you evaluate the response of one John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to the Ludlow Massacre of April 1913

3 Step One: Who are the Characters? Main Character John D. Rockefeller, Jr. o nicknamed Junior o o only son (among 5 children) of industrialist John D. Rockefeller, Sr. o carried on father s business and philanthropic legacies Supporting Characters John D. Rockefeller, Sr. o nicknamed Senior o o often considered the richest person in history, earned a fortune and a reputation as a ruthless robber baron with Standard Oil, though reputation was considerably redeemed by significant philanthropic pursuits Colorado Fuel and Iron Company o known as CFI o November 1902 Rockefeller Senior becomes controlling owner of Colorado Fuel and Iron (CFI), paying $6 million to control 40% of its stock o CFI is the state s largest employer, with 242 coal mines. It is the 2 nd largest steel company and the 17 th largest industrial firm in America. o CFI loses money for the Rockefellers and gains reputation for labor unrest o Junior is given managerial control of CFI by Senior (he is responsible for CFI but initially has not been given any stock) o Locally managed by Lamont M. Bowers (Chernow, p. 571) Group Questions: 1. Based on the information given above, what do you predict is the relationship between Junior and Senior? Explain your answer. 2. Junior s headquarters are in NYC, far from CFI. What might you guess about the relationship between Junior and local President of CFI, Lamont M. Bowers? 3. What responsibility do you imagine Junior feels toward the miners in Colorado? Explain

4 Step Two: What are their Attitudes toward Organized Labor? John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Regarding an early strike in 1902: We are prepared to stand by in this fight and see the thing out, not yielding an inch. Recognition of any kind of either the labor leaders or union, much more a conference such as they request, would be a sign of evident weakness on our part. (Chernow, p. 572) John D. Rockefeller, Sr. On labor unions: It is all beautiful at the beginning: they give their organization a fine name and they declare a set of righteous principles.but soon the real object of their organizing shows itself to do as little as possible for the greatest possible pay. more on unions: it is clear that if they get the power, they have the spirit to rob, to confiscate, to absorb remorselessly, cruelly, voraciously, if they can, the whole wealth of society. (RAC) On workers They spend their money on picture shows, and whiskey and cigarettes. (RAC) Colorado Fuel and Iron Company January 31, 1910 CFI mine explosion killed 79 Bowers blames it on careless miners. (Chernow, p. 572) Group Questions 1. According to these documents, how would you describe Management s attitude toward Unions? Explain. 2. Are Senior and Junior in agreement concerning Labor Unions? Explain. 3. Do you think Management and Labor Unions are fundamentally opposed? Explain.

5 Step Three: Timeline How does Junior respond to the crisis? September 1913 Early September - Hoping to avoid a strike by the Colorado miners, President Woodrow Wilson asks Junior for his help. Junior refuses the President. September 4, 1913 Bowers writing to Junior There has been a group of Labor Union agitators in southern Colorado for more than a month and threatening to call a strike for the purpose of securing a recognition of the Western Federation of Miners.This has kept us all in a state of unrest A disaster of this sort would put us up against a fight that would be serious indeed. ** Note: Junior reads the letter and writes in the margins irrelevant to Bowers comments on the unrest. (RAC) Sept. 19, 1913 Bowers writes to a Rockefeller representative The main question is recognition of the union, which we flatly refuse to do, or even meet with these agitators to discuss or take up this question directly or indirectly. (RAC) September 26, 1913 United Mine Workers announces plans to unionize local miners. 900 workers at CFI strke to demand union recognition, as well as better hours, pay, and housing conditions Coal companies own the company homes and kick the striking workers out of these homes. Tent colonies spring up beyond company grounds biggest one near an area named Ludlow. Bowers promises Junior they will resist until our bones were bleached as white as chalk from these Rocky Mountains. Junior responds to Bowers: We feel that what you have done is right and fair and that the position you have taken in regard to the unionizing of the mines is in the interest of the employees of the company...whatever the outcome, we will stand by you to the end. (Chernow, p. 575) Group Questions 1. What s going on in Colorado?

6 2. What further insight do you get about Junior s views on Labor? 3. Why do you think he feels this way about Labor Unions? 4. Are Junior and Bowers in agreement? Explain. 5. Do you think Senior approves of Junior s actions at this point? How do you know? Letter from L Bowers to John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Sept. 4, 1913 (RAC)

7 October 1913 October 6, 1913 Junior writing to Bowers You gentlemen cannot be more earnest in your desire for the best interests of the employee of your Company than we are. We feel that what you have done is right and fair and that the position which you have taken in regard to the unionizing of the mines is in the interest of the employees of the Company. Whatever the outcome may be, we will stand by you. (RAC) October 11, 1913 Bowers writing to Junior I believe that if the business men do not awaken from their indifference and take aggressive measures on a large scale to right the wrongs that are being inflicted upon the business of this country, we will see a revolution, we will be under military government and our republic will end where so many others have ended. (RAC) October gunfire is exchanged between strikers in tent city at Ludlow and deputy sheriffs (actually just mine company security guards) Sheriffs construct a Death Special a kind of armored tank with machine guns Bowers tells Junior about the strikers guns but not about his own weaponry. Gov. Elias Ammons sends in the Colorado National Guard to restore order National Guard primarily there to protect company property from the miners (Chernow, p. 576) October 30, 1913 President Woodrow Wilson intervenes, asking CFI to do something to calm down the situation. CFI responds they will never consent to unionization. (Chernow, p. 576) Group Questions 1. What s going on in Colorado at this point? 2. Has Junior changed his views in any way? Explain. 3. How would you rate Junior s handling of the crisis at this point? Explain.

8 November and December 1913 November 13, 1913 Junior writing to Bowers We are profoundly distressed that such disorder, suffering and bloodshed should result from the action of the labor leaders, and feel the sincerest sympathy with the employees of the company, who are forced to suffer, directly and indirectly, thereby. (RAC) November 22, 1913 Bowers writing to Junior They have so overreached the bounds of reason and common decency as to attract attention everywhere, and this is what is needed to awaken the men who have the good of the country at heart, to oppose and finally defeat unions of every sort. (RAC) December 4, 1913 CFI Official writing to a Rockefeller employee about a meeting with striking miners and the Governor: it convinced the Governor that the grievance of the men were of a trivial character and that we had already granted, even before demanded and before the strike was called, everything that the men had a right to ask or strike for We are experiencing an unusual snow storm today on top of an average storm about two days ago, and the result is from eighteen inches to two feet of snow in northern Colorado, as well a in the southern district.. (RAC) December 16, 1914 Letter from a miner to the Commission on industrial Relations: The records of the State and federal courts of the nation bear witness to the power of John D. Rockefeller to destroy the property, character, and even the lives of those who oppose him in his mad pursuit of wealthy.. there is but one human being responsible for the deplorable conditions in the coal industry of the State of Colorado Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (RAC) December 26, 1913 Junior writing to Bowers I assume this means that conditions have become so nearly normal that business can be very generally resumed. It is most gratifying to feel that this struggle is so rapidly becoming a thing of the past. (RAC) Group Questions 1. What s going on in Colorado at this point? In what ways might life be getting more miserable for the striking miners?

9 2. How does Junior respond to the events? 3. Why do you think the miner blamed the crisis on Senior and not Junior? 4. What do you think will happen next? Tent City in Ludlow, Colorado (RAC Family Collection)

10 March April 1914 March 1914 Junior is called to testify before Congress regarding the continuing strike. Junior models his testimony on his father: No one could ever ruffle him or corner him and he never lost his temper. I had this great example before me and I felt I couldn t let him down. (Chernow, p. 576) April Junior continues testimony before Congress He admits that he didn t try to end the strike himself, had not visited Colorado for many years, and wasn t really informed about the miners grievances But he insists workers have a right not to join a union. It is a great principle, he says, equal to those from the American Revolution. Father is so delighted with Junior s performance, he finally gives him CFI stock. Now he is the actual owner of CFI, not just dad s representative. (Chernow, p. 576) April 20, 1914 Problems in tent city 35 militiamen from the National Guard attack tent city, killing several strikers. When the drunken guardsmen set fire to the tents, they unknowingly kill two women and eleven children huddled in a dirt bunker under a tent. Junior and his wife are gardening at their Westchester estate when they hear of the massacre : o While this loss of life is profoundly to be regretted, it is unjust in the extreme to lay it at the door of the defenders of law and property, who were in no slightest way responsible for it. Cleveland newspaper: The charred bodies of two dozen women and children show that Rockefeller knows how to win. Helen Keller Mr. Rockefeller is the monster of capitalism. He gives charity and in the same breath he permits the helpless workmen, their wives and children to be shot down. Upton Sinclair I intend this night to indict you upon a charge of murder before the people of the country But before I take this step, I wish to give you every opportunity of fair play. (Note: Junior does not respond) (Chernow, p )

11 Group Questions 1. In what two ways does the situation now change dramatically for Junior? a. b. 2. How does Junior respond to these events? 3. How do critics view Junior s involvement in the Ludlow affair? How do you predict Rockefeller will respond to the criticism? Explain. (RAC Family Collection)

12 Name The Final Chapter Rockefeller and Ludlow: June 1914 September 1915 June Frustrated, Junior hires Mackenzie King to help him respond to Ludlow Crisis. He had vast experience in industrial relations and I had none I needed guidance. King writes in his diary about the need to make Junior realize: that we were living together in a different generation than the one in which his father lad lived Today, there was a social spirit abroad, and it was absolutely necessary to take the public into one s confidence, to give publicity to many things, and especially to stand out for certain principles very broadly. King proposes a labor compromise: CFI employees would elect representatives to a board dealing with worker grievances. This was considered a revolutionary concession at the time. December months after Ludlow Massacre striking miners voted to end the long walkout, allowing federal troops to leave the area. Bowers doesn t like the idea of labor-management cooperation, but Junior insists. January 1915 Junior takes a public offensive for improved labor relations in his testimony before the US Commission on Industrial Relations at New York s City Hall: I should hope that I could never reach the point where I would not be constantly progressing to something higher, better both with reference to my own acts and to the general situation in the company. My hope is that I am progressing. It is my desire to. King says: I reported to him, that there appeared no alternative so far as he was concerned, to his being either the storm centre of a great revolution in this country or the man who by his fearless stand and position would transfuse a new spirit into industry. September 1915 Junior and his wife take a trip out to Colorado in September 1915: I know it is my duty as a director to know more about actual conditions in the mines, I told Mother Jones that, of course, there should be free speech, free assembly, and independent, no company owned, schools, stores and churches in the mine field. I am going to Colorado as soon as I can to learn for myself. (Chernow, pp )

13 Critical Thinking: Individual Questions on Case Study 1. How does the Ludlow Massacre change Junior s attitudes and actions toward Organized Labor? 2. What causes do you think influence the change? 3. Do you think the change is genuine? Explain. 4. Why is Junior s shifting response so significant? Consider Rockefeller family history and the time period in American history. 5. To what extent are actions determined by our circumstances and to what extent can we chart our own course? Junior and King on visit to Colorado

14 (RAC Family Collection)