New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-01
HINT ROCKEFELLER
TOLD TO QUIT n. Il.
Ex-senator Crane Feared
Federal Quiz Would En-
barrass Director.
MELLEN GIVES MORE
FACTS TO u. S. JURY
Ex.president Straightens Out
Tangled Testimony Offered
in Washington.

William Roekefellsr's resignation
srsm the New Haven board was
"a All iutents and purposes by request
.,eording 20 the story told in inside
oaiesi circles, with ex-senator W. Mur-
raw Crane in the position Of the diplo
yoat;st who arranged for the filing o.
the document.
Mr.. Crane is one Of tho directors
from Massachusetts, and leader OF the
movement 20 rid the road Of every one
closely identified with Mellen.
II Is understood that the Senator
pointed out to the Standard Oil man
that as his health is not good this
would be an excellent time for him to
retire from the board, especially as
DEVELOPMENTS in the grand jury inves-
tgation now on in the federal courts
might cause some embarrassment 70
the company if he we're still a director
And, further. with winter coming on
Mr. Rockefeller could not give the at
fairs Of the company the attention
director should on account Of his plans
70 spend the season at Jekyi Island
and, as his retirement had been looked
for, this was as good time as any TO
quit.
As pleasantly as possible, it is said
the msn from Dalto told Mr.. Rookie
Teller that it would be better for him
20 resign now than to be dropped at
the annual meeting Of directors at New
Haven one month hence, but that ne
might wait until then If he preferred
that mode Of exit Anyway, Mr.. Crane
urged IL would be embarrassing TO the
company IL as a result Of the inquiry
now on the magnate should be indicted
while stiu a meml'Jr of the board.
Mr.. Rockefeller's objection, made
during the period Of weeks that the
massachusetts director was trying to
work him around to his way Of think
ing, was i'm the main 70 placing him-
self the position OF quitting under
Gre. Mellen or no Mellen, he SAID, ne
had done nothing wrong, and while ne
had reached that age that he was grad
ually relinqulshlng his burdens, ne ala
not wish TO appear as one running
away from anything and fearful that
hie retirement would be construed by
enemies as q partial confession Of
wrongdOlng.
retire at this time, In line with his
policy announced months ago OF get
ting off many of the boards on which
he WAS serving, finally decided Mr..
Rockefeller that he might as we'll go.
And TO make easier the work
of the slate-makers, who will arrange
the ticket to be elected at next months
meeting. Mr.. BROKER and Mr.. Elton de-
ridsd that s,ey, too, had had enough,
particularly IS il had been determined
10 reduce the board to fifteen members.
The retirement of this quartet leaves
only thirteen men now on the New
Haven board of the twenty seven that
served il when Charles S. Mellen was
I'M his prime, and of these two-A. 5.
Nav. treasurer of the company, and
a Is. Clark, secretary-sre directors
ex-oficio. IL is expected that this num-
Der M be further reduced next
month. I'm accordance with the policy
Of eliminating every possible talnt OF
Mechanism from the board. However,
of those remaining none were proml-
nent in the Mellen days, with Il. cN-
ception of William Skinner
Charles S. Mellen, the former prcSt-
dent of the New Haven, continued his
testimony before the federal grand
Jury Yesterday afternoon, and at ad-
tournament was invited to appear again
fbis afternoon. The only other witness
called Yesterday was A. n. Hampstead,
an assistant secretary Of the New
Haven. who appeared with records OF
the company that had been subp9naed.
Hempste8d's evidence was INTENDED
10 I'll In and confirm part OF the story
Mellen had told, his being called az
tbIs time evidencing q desire on the
part of the prosecutors 70 get the stoIy
az the New Haven before the grand
iyrv in connected form. II was said
Yesterday that Howard Elliott, chair,
man Of the New Haven, had informed
tbe Department of Justice that any and
All records Of the company are at ITS
disposal and that the management VII
extend any aid that may be asked II
expediting the inquiry.
MeIien's story, as il is being told tC
the grand jury,gis understood 70 D'
more full in some respects than ina
given before the Interstate Commerce
Commission. The witness explains
more fully some points that he asserts
he was misunderstood on when he ties
titled In Washington, In inc main
however, the story is essentially thu
same as that told before.
Mellen yesterday refused to common
on the resignation Of Rockefeller, III
ton, Brooker and Baker beyond I'M
statement that he was surprised Mr.
Rockefeller, on account Of his health,
had remained as long as he did
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