West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-04-09


Moral Obligations in Connection
With Strife in Coal Regions. Since
He Has Charge Of His Fathers
Heavy Holdings There-combjna.
lions Of Capital Unlike Labor Unions.
Washington, April THE house
mines committee which is nvestlgat.
ing conditions in the Colorado mine
strike zone called John ID. Rockefeller.
Jr, as a witness.
John ID. Rockefeller has a large
interest in the Colorado coal fields
and his son is in charge OF the invest.
ment. The congressional quizzors
Kept the magnate's son on the stahd
for four hours. most OF the question.
Ing concerned young Rockefeller's
moral obligations for the strike. The
witness told the committee:
That he and three other directors
represented his fathers interest OF
about 40 per cent In the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company. central figure IN
the big coal strike.
That the strike had become feht
for the principles OF freedom OF
labor" and that he and his associates
would rather that the present violence
continue "Pnd that they lose all OF
their millions invested In the coal
helds than that American workingmen
should be deprived OF the right under
the constitution TO work for whom
they pleased"
That he favored arbitration I'm In.
ffmgtFtDl nfunnfnc ~
In the present instance he supported
the officers Of the company in their
refusal TO submit the question OF
unionizing the mines to arbitration.
That as a director he had fulfilled
all OF his interest and responsibility
In the company when he placed as of.
hcers competent and trusted men"
In charge of the company's affairs.
That he knew nothing OF conditions
In the strike district, except from re.
ports OF the officers OF the company.
Mr.. Rockefeller declared that en-.
ployer and employe were fellow men
and should treat each other as such"
but could see no analogy between the
unionization OF worlmen and the com.
bination OF capital. He told the com.
mittee that his conscience acquitted
him OF having done his full duty in re.
gard to the striking coal diggers by
placing competent men in authority
over them and leaving responsibility
to those men.
Members OF the committee spoke
OF Mr.. Rockefeller's interest and work
In various upuft movements and asked
why he had not gone about welfare
work-in the Colorado coal fields I'm a
similar way.
81 did just exactly as have done
In all Of my investigations" he said.
u picked out the best qualified men
could find, placed them in charge and
trusted them 10 do their best"
Mr.. Rockefeller said that he would
consider arbitration Of the dispute in
the Colorado field n he could be as.
sured that fair and unbiased board
OF arbitration could be obtained. lie
suggested federal judges as the best
qualified to serve on such a board.
Ninety per cent OF the employees OF
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company.
Mr.. Rockefeller said, were nonunion
men who had no difficulties with the
officers Of the company. He said that
he could see no reason why these
men should be forced to join n union
and pay union dues by the other 10
per cent"
"As a director OF the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company have you ever in
vestigated the conditions among your
employees in Colorado?"
mo. ! have been trained 20 act on
the reports OF trained and competent
men who do make investigations. 7
have received the reports ~ the men
In charge OF the work out there and
have made them responsible" said
Mr.. Rockefeller. Officers have rcn0rt-
ed 20 him that by the end of the pres
ent year the strike VIII have cost ST.
| 000. 900. re said he di1 not E1ow
whether any money bad been e0ant IN
import arms and ammunition into to
strike district.
But II the state authorities we-e
unable 10 protect tho ern- loves of the
company 7 should sav thrt tho first
duty of the officers would be 20 20
that tho workers were protected %
added.
you have spent s250coO go fer 'u
| this fight" said Chairman Foster. "v ~
have heard that men. w0wrp a~1 ,1n
/ dren have been shot ard killed out
/ there. Don't YOU think thaf as IN
rector you might have made "a poreon
al Investigation of conditions and
/ looked into things there rather than
I rely ON the officers who were there"
"We stand ready ~ lose every cent
We have invested iu thot comnanv
rather than that the WORKING an ~
this country should lose their rfeht ~
work for whom they please" said Mr.
/ Rockefeller
"Youll do that even n you lose an
your money and have all your em
pioyos klllcd7' asked Mr. Foster.
"it'a a great principle. It's na
tional issue And We propose 10 sun
| port the officers In their courvo. whith
is I'm support ~ tho worMnrmfn
ihemseives and their right t1 work
Tor whom thev please and bow they
] please returned the witness