Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-06
But Blame for Colorado
Strike Conditions is
Put Upon Officers.
CONSCIENCE Is CLEAR
YOunu Rockefeller Declares He
Would Retire if He Thought
He Was at Fault.

Washington, d. c, April 6.-JOhn D.
Rockefeller. Jr., told the house mines
committee today that his father owned
about forty per cent of the stock of
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company,
central figure in the industrial strike
which has swept the Colorado coal
fields
Rockefeller said the responsibility
for the conduct of the corporations
lay not only with the stockholders and
directors, but with the officers
-ohicers Of the company" he said,
have been held responsible and if we
ind their policies have been mistaken
We will Immediately remove them"
You are what's called a dummy
director. are you not?" asked Chair
nan Foster.
} We'll. we do not call it that" re-
Piled Rockefeller.
Too Busy to Inquire.
He said his fathers interests were
represented in the directorate by him
self. Mr.. Murphy and John D. Green.
He said l. VI. Bowers. an indirect"
representative, was an officer OF the
company in whom the officials had
confidence as an upright and able
business man.
Rockefeller said he himself had no
time to look personally into the Colo
rzdo field conditions. He said IL he
thought he thus was failing to do his
duty he would resign, but declared his
conscience was cleaE-s..-
Ready TO Lose All.
We stand ready 10 lose every cent
invested in that company rather than
that the workmen of this country
should lose the right TO work for
whom they please" said Rockefeller.
You'll do that even if you lose all
your money, and have all your en-
ployes killed." asked Mr.. Foster.
Rockefeller replied: It's a great
principle It's a national issue We
propose TO support the officers in their
course. which is in support of the
Eorkingmen themselves, and their
right 10 work for what and when they
please"
Discussing labor conditions, Rookie
fsller said he thought Free American
citizens should have the right TO
choose their employer and conditions !
Of work" Ninety per cent Of the en- |
pioyes OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company. he said, were non-union men.
Who had no difficulties with the officers |
Of the company.
Should Not Be Forced.
He said he saw no reason why they |
Should be forced TO join the union and /
made TO pay union dues by the other /
10 per cent.
believe employer and emplOye are |
fellow men, and should treat each 9th. /
er as such" said he. He said the 4
strike would cost $4,000 He did
not know whether money had been
spent to import arms to the strike
zone, but said II the state could not
protect employees. the cOmpany's first
duty was to do so.
Mitchell Offers Remedies
Organization OF coal mine operators
under government supervision, and an
egreement on prices, was advocated
oy John Mitchell. former president OF
NE United Mine Workers, before the
leceral commission OF industrial re-
i2tions. which Is investigating collec-
I'VE bargaining. Cancellation and arbt-
ration in different industries Mitchell
said 40 per cent OF all coal mined in
ne United States was wasted because
ne mine operators cannot dispose OF
= a. a profit He thought a federal
Industrial council. with power TO in
'esusate threatened. or pending
'trikes will be Of great value
Miners on Strike.
Dover. y. J.. April 6.-Members OF
ne Western Federation OF Miners EN-
'ioyed at the mines OF the Thomas
ron company at Wharton struck be
1cse the company refuses 20 take
'aek s. Of their number laid on re-
'ently. The strikers say they VIII
ring all the mines in this section into
he dispute n the company does not
nange its attitude.
Porto Rico Conditions Bad.
New York. April 6.-Samuel Com
,sEs. who arrived today from Porto
Geo. where he made a study OF the
@oor conditions, said in an address on
card ship that the situation was de-
forabie and that he and his associates
the American Federation Of Labor
'ould ask President Wilson and CON
Tess for a special investigating com
'ittee which would bring relief 70 The