Aftermath
"The miners lost because they had only the constitution. The other side had bayonets. In the end, bayonets always win."
-Mother Jones
-Mother Jones
The Ludlow Massacre made a US Historic Landmark~2009
(WHAT THE MONUMENT SAID) “On April 20, 1914, the State Militia unleashed an unwarranted attack on striking coal miners and their families living in a tent colony at this site. Eleven children and two women 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 ll year old boy, and an 18 year old passerby” (Ludlow Massacre Memorial and Monument). The monument of the Ludlow Massacre shows the people--the miners were brutally killed for striking for their rights.
(WHAT THE MONUMENT SAID) “On April 20, 1914, the State Militia unleashed an unwarranted attack on striking coal miners and their families living in a tent colony at this site. Eleven children and two women 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 ll year old boy, and an 18 year old passerby” (Ludlow Massacre Memorial and Monument). The monument of the Ludlow Massacre shows the people--the miners were brutally killed for striking for their rights.
Colorado Budget~1913-1914
"During the 1913-1914 Colorado strike, coal production plummeted. The railroad had less coal to transport, so it laid off half of its crew. Colorado was forced to squeeze $15 million from its state budget for the expense of dealing with the strike, with months to go before the dispute was settled"(Ruby 33). It was a right for Colorado to help with the strike. The miners had a right to good pay and the right to strike.
"During the 1913-1914 Colorado strike, coal production plummeted. The railroad had less coal to transport, so it laid off half of its crew. Colorado was forced to squeeze $15 million from its state budget for the expense of dealing with the strike, with months to go before the dispute was settled"(Ruby 33). It was a right for Colorado to help with the strike. The miners had a right to good pay and the right to strike.
The Mine Act~1977
"Legislation, also known as the Mine Act (30 USC 801 et seq.), requiring the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to inspect surface mines and underground mines; investigate mine accidents, complaints, and violations" (NOLO). “The 1891 law was relatively modest legislation that applied only to mines in U.S. territories, and, among other things, established minimum ventilation requirements at underground coal mines and prohibited operators from employing children under 12 years of age” (MSHA). “In 1910, following a decade in which the number of coal mine fatalities exceeded 2,000 annually, Congress established the Bureau of Mines as a new agency in the Department of the Interior. The Bureau was charged with the responsibility to conduct research and to reduce accidents in the coal mining industry” (MSHA).
"Legislation, also known as the Mine Act (30 USC 801 et seq.), requiring the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to inspect surface mines and underground mines; investigate mine accidents, complaints, and violations" (NOLO). “The 1891 law was relatively modest legislation that applied only to mines in U.S. territories, and, among other things, established minimum ventilation requirements at underground coal mines and prohibited operators from employing children under 12 years of age” (MSHA). “In 1910, following a decade in which the number of coal mine fatalities exceeded 2,000 annually, Congress established the Bureau of Mines as a new agency in the Department of the Interior. The Bureau was charged with the responsibility to conduct research and to reduce accidents in the coal mining industry” (MSHA).
Greek Population Change in Colorado:
“In 1912, 61% of the area's coal miners were of "non-Western European" origin.” (Working and Striking in Southern Colorado, 1913-1914) "In Pueblo, there are approximately 3,000 Greeks today" (Colorado Greek as First Ancestry Population Percentage City Rank). Today, we have one of the best Greek festivals in the U.S. (The Denver Greek Festival), which shows how important heritage is to the Greeks of Colorado (The Denver Greek Festival).
“In 1912, 61% of the area's coal miners were of "non-Western European" origin.” (Working and Striking in Southern Colorado, 1913-1914) "In Pueblo, there are approximately 3,000 Greeks today" (Colorado Greek as First Ancestry Population Percentage City Rank). Today, we have one of the best Greek festivals in the U.S. (The Denver Greek Festival), which shows how important heritage is to the Greeks of Colorado (The Denver Greek Festival).
Reports After:
"Rockefeller (Jr.)'s public relations agent covered up the event so well that reports said there were actually no shots fired at the tent site. In fact, some people in Colorado didn't even know that the massacre happened, because they covered it up so well" (Ludlow
Interview). At the same time, the UMWA was saying that there was more than 19 people killed, they were saying that there were mass graves of miners and their families. The UMWA added the word "massacre" to the title, the Ludlow Massacre to make it sound a lot worse. It's like the Boston "Massacre", where only five people died, "massacre" was an overstatement. "Each side used public opinion to make their opponents side sound worse then what it actually was" (Ludlow Interview).
"Rockefeller (Jr.)'s public relations agent covered up the event so well that reports said there were actually no shots fired at the tent site. In fact, some people in Colorado didn't even know that the massacre happened, because they covered it up so well" (Ludlow
Interview). At the same time, the UMWA was saying that there was more than 19 people killed, they were saying that there were mass graves of miners and their families. The UMWA added the word "massacre" to the title, the Ludlow Massacre to make it sound a lot worse. It's like the Boston "Massacre", where only five people died, "massacre" was an overstatement. "Each side used public opinion to make their opponents side sound worse then what it actually was" (Ludlow Interview).
