The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-06
He Will Fight Colorado Strik.
ers to the End.
OWNS 40 PER CENT c. f. AND |.
Will Lose 1t All Rather Than
Yield, He Says.
Declares Workers Have Right
to Choose Employers.

Washington, April 6.-John d.
Rockefeller, Jr., told the house mines
committee today that his father owns
about 40 per cent of the stock of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company, the
central figure in the industrial strife
which has swept the Colorado coal
fields Mr.. Rockefeller contended
that responsibility for the conduct OF
corporations lay not only with the
stockholders or directors but with
the officers Of the company.
I'm these days when business inter-
ests are so diversified and directors
are members of SO many boards. the
best they can do is to appoint om-
GERS and hold them responsible" said
he.
Don't you think the fact that the
government has found it necessary to
take action would warrant you In
taking more than a passing interest
in the situation?" asked Chairman
Foster.
II have taken more than a passing
interest" returned Mr.. Rockefeller.
..The vast sums of money involved,
and the great disorder in the field
concerned me closely. But l have
done all that I could. The officers of
the company have been held RESPONSE
BILE and If we are at any time con-
vinced the policies are mistaken We
will Immediately remove them L am
one of my fathers representatives In
this as in other of his personal In
vestments.
Questioned by Representative
Byrnes. Mr. Rockefeller outlined his
fathers holdings in the securities OF
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company
They are:' Common stock, 139,SO7 out
of 342,s55 shares; preferred stock.
7,944 shares out OF 10000 shares;
bonds Colorado Industrial company,
per cents, $14,45O,0OO out of $685.
$4,000. Other holdings were Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron Company general
per cent. $36S.000 out of $5.63s,o0O.
His Conscience Acqutts Him.
Mr.. Rockefeller said that the only
dividends paid by the company were
in 1919 A cumulative dividend OF
eight per cent of the preferred stock
had at that time, he said, had accumu-
lated to rs per cent OF the cap1taI
stock during that year. He said 35
per cent was paid on the accumulat-
ed dividend and four per cent on the
eight per cent dividend due that year.
The interest of his father in the
concern was represented, he said. In
the directorate by himself. Starr J.
murphy and John Green. J. r. NC
Kenna and l.. M. Bowers. he said.
were indirect representatives"
Representative Byrnes questioned
Mr.. Rockefeller about endorsing Mr..
bowers methods of dealing with the
strike.
The witness said while Bowers was
not personally representing the Rookie
feller interests, he had been told they
would stand by what had been done
In Colorado.
"Mr. Bowers is known to us as an
able and upright business man; we
r.; tn, Of h1c ci-
ness" said the witness.
You are what is called dummy
director, aren't you?" asked Chairman
Foster.
well, we don't call it that" said
Mr.. Rockefeller.
He added that he had no time to
look into conditions in the Colorado
field.
Don't you think a director of a
company ought to know these
things? asked the chairman. Don't
you think II he has not the time he
ought to put some one in his place
who would have time?"
IF 1 thought I were not conscien-
tiously doing my duty. I should. of
course. resign" said Mr.. Rockefeller,
but my conscience entirely acQuits
me in this case"
Ninety Per Cent NOnuniOn.
Discussing labor conditions. Mr..
Rockefeller said he believed Free
American citizens should have the
right to choose the employer for
whom they shall work, and the con-
ditions under which they shall work"
Ninety per cent of the employees of
the Colorado Fuel and Iron company
Mr.. Rockefeller said, were nonunion
men. who had no difficulty with the
officers of the company. He said he
could see no reason why these men
should be forced to join a union and
pay union dues"
What is your opinion as to the re-
lation of employee and employer
asked Chairman Foster.
Il believe that the employer and
the employee are fellow men, and
should treat each other as such.'
AS director of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company have you ever in
vestigated conditions among your en-
ployes in Colorado"
mo. I have been trained to act on
the reports of trained and competent
men who do make Investigations. 1
have received the reports Of the men
have made them responsible" said
Mr.. Rockefeller.
Officers of the company have re-
ported that by the end Of the present
Eear the strike will have cost 81. .O0O.-
900. The witness said he did not
know whether any money had been
spent for arms and ammunition.
Have Spent $25O,OOO.
But If the state authorities were un-
able to protect the employees of the
company. I should say that the first
duty of the officers would be to see
that the workers were protected" he
added
You have spent $3.50. 900 SO far in this
fight said Chairman Foster. "You
have heard that men. women and chill
dren have been shot and killed out
there Don't you think that. a. q di-