New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-07

viii he upheld by ne es long az We oee'u
t.Ar, ,ecrlhv OF confidence. have every
condolences in tho Judgment end aoliN "
Nf VTlborn and Mr. Bowers
Don't YOU think the fact that the gov
ernment is taking some interest IN th's
strike ought to be a hint 20 you to take q.
lesst a passing interest in tho anairs OF
YOUR minese" asked Mr., Foster.
Il have not taken Just passing nue..
+. est" protested Mr. Rockefeller shsn''S
raising his voice. "The strike has cause"
ne great concern. but ell we can do Is 70
Keen IN touch with Tho men we trust
should We reach the conclusion that they
are not doing the right thing then we
win taxa the matter up with them.
chairman Foster prodded the witness on
his lack or knowledge OF conditions at the
mines. Mr.. Rockefeller said he ala not
know the average wage paid miners III
Colorado. nor was he aware Of the amour.
charged by his company for rent OF
houses used by the miners
DO you know they are not allowed 70
own their own horSesr' ne was asked
y don't know anything about such de-
sails" he answered.
Don't YOU think your employees should
be permitted TO own their own homes
isn't IL an incentive TO them2 Doesn't a
man become a better citizen II he owns
his homer"
THAT is a Hypothetical question ana
cant see the Importance Of the answer
answered Mr.. Rockefeller. LAS to the
colorado miners Il depends. IL miner
had a 10 or 20 year contract It might be
well for him to purchase his house. nut
lis work is somewhat uncertain It's
question OF judgment"
DO you not think that. as a man who
represents a good many millions. you
should know more about the board OF
directors and its acts?'
Il DO not think Il is possible"
Don't YOU think you ought to get off
athe board?"
If I felt that I had neglected my duty
would resign. But my conscience en-
tirely scduits me"
Have your officers ever reported that
the men wanted 10 buy their own homes?'
Would Protect Men.
ssThey have not. Were they to do so
would leave that to the judgment Of the
officers Of the company"
Chairman Foster asked II Mr.. Rookie
Teller knew that machine guns from the
West Virginia coal fields had been i'm
ported during the Colorado trouble. Mr.
Rockefeller knew nothing about IT.
What have you TO say about such
things?" Mr.. Foster continued.
7 think the workers deserve protec-
ton Were TO make suggestion, L
would say protect our men
Even 10 the extent of using machine
guns7" asked Foster.
IT would not say how 70 protect. i
would Just say protect
Several times committee members in
sisted that a strike Involving 5000 or
more men was OF suficieht importance
10 warrant your personal attention" but
in every instance Mr.. Rockefeller said
he had kept in touch by correspondence
with his officers on the ground, and he
rendered his correspondence files.
"As a director representing millions OF
stock, you are willing to trust this great
strike TO others?" asked Chairman Eos
ter.
Il have given It attention by giving
jurisdiction to men I trust absolutely. ]
know the character Of these men and am
willing 10 trust them. Mr.. Welborn was
brought Up with the company, and he
smes always been conspicuous ia welfare
~6Nz When visited the mining camps
] was most gratified by the efforts made
for the social and Industrial betternlent
Of the men"
Disc ssing At length the strike. Mr..
Rockefeller said he would rather relin-
ouish his Colorado holdings and close
down the mines than 20 recognize the
unions under the circumstances. He de-
clared he did not oppose unions as such'
hut he objected to unions which tried 10
force men TO Join them and deprived them
Of the liberty Of working for whom they
plessed. Recognition OF the mine work
ers' union. he asserted, would mean the
Reputation OF faithful employees who had
remained with the company in its present
troubles.
Holdings in Company.
Questioned BY Representative Byrnes,
Mr.. Rockefeller outlined his fathers
holdings IN the securities of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company thus: Common
stock. 1sasO7 out Of 3i2,555 shares; pre-
ferred stock, 1855 out of 1000 shares;
bonds. Colorado Industrial Company per
cents. si4.45OOOO out OF s33 1900.
other holdings we're Colorado Fuel and
Iran Company general per cents. $S560O
asst Of s5.67sO 900. Mr. Rockefeller said that
the only dividends paid by the company
were I'm 1913 A cumulative dividend OF 8
per cent on tho preferred stock had at
that time. he said. accumulated to 20 per
cent on the capital stock. He said 80 per
cent was paid on the accumulated div-
dend and 4 per cent on the per cent
dividend due that year. The interest OF
ois father I'm the concern was repre-
sented he said, in the directorate by
himself. Starr J. Murphy and John p.
Green. J. H. McKenna and J. NJ Bow
ers he said. were indirect representa-
lives"
Representative Byrnes questioned MT.
Rockefeller about indorsng what Mr.
povers had done in dealing with the
etrike Tie witness said that while Bow
ers was not personally representing the
sockefener interests he had written TO
hi,, saving no would stand by what
bsd feen done in Colorado. MIR. Bowers
IL known 10 US as an able and upright
,,si,oss man and an officer Of the com
.nv We trust him in the conduct Of