The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-06
FACTS CONCERNING ]. COLORADO LABOR
 STRUGGLE PR0bED
Pamphlet Issued by Presi- dent of Fuel and Iron Go. Investigated-Decline
 to Name Author

Denver. Col. December 5.-Facts con- dustral freedom a pamphlet which J. F. weborn. president of the Colorado Fuel and Iron company, said his cor poration had caused to be written, were investigated today by the federal commits sion on industrial relations. The com mittee inquired both into the responai- bility for the publication and the truth of its statements.
 Mir. welborn testified that the Colorado Fuel and Iron company published the document and distributed 10000 copies He said that several paragraphs should be qualified, that of the truth of others he had no evidence and repudiated responsi- bility for still other statements.
 The witness declined to name the au- thor, who, he said. came to Colorado to write the book after conversation with eastern directors of the company. He did not know who was to pay the writer.
 Mr. Welborn said the writer was Vill in the employ of, the company.
 Question Welborn
 Chairman Walsh questioned MT. Well born conserning statement printed that at some of the mines from 90 to 99 per cent of the miners before the strike was .called signed papers expressing satisfac- ton with working conditions and opposing the strike. MT. Welborn said at the Rouse mine 9s per cent of the miners signed the statement but that 70 per cent went out when the strike was called. At three other mines, he said. 90 per cent signed but considerably less than that percent age remained at work.
 MT. Walsh called the witness attention to a table appearing in the pamphlet to national officers of the United Mine Workers. According to this table sums paid out in nine weeks were:
 Frank J. Haynes, s45o2 plus $1ss7 for ex- penses; John McLennan, s26S3 plus s14Os for expenses; John R. Lawson s177s; Mary Jones, s266S.
 Do you accept personal responsibility for ths?" asked Walsh.
 For as much of the published state- ment as has not been denied'' replied Welborn If it is true that McLennan gets sl day will you correct it?" "Just as soon as I believe it is wrong D Mir Welborn said the statement was published first in a newspaper. 2, re- sopnse to questions by MT. Walsh he said he had not been certain denials flat were cited.
 Did you look for a repudiation?'' No, I had great deal else to d." Mir Welborn reiterated that the state
 ment had been published on the autho.tty of the newspaper in which it first al peared.
 "of course if the newspaper statenen,
 is incorrect this statement is incorrect, T
 he said.
 Commissioner OConnel said the figures Green, secretary of the United Mine Workers, and covered total salary and expenses for one year, not nine weeks
 "Of course I had no access to MT. Green's report,' said Welborn. The statement in the pamphlet which alleged that the delegates to the Trinidad convention that called the strike were selected and sent there by the officers of the union, MT Welborn declared ht could not substantiate. The pamphe
 stated that of the s5OO000 employees of the | Colorado Fuel and Iron company had or
 deposit with the company only 20 pei cent had been withdrawn. Under cross
 examination MT. Welborn said that of tn, total sum only $e0,OO0 was on demand
 notes and of this sS0,00o was the property
 of miners. The rest of the money wal deposited on interest-bearing time notes
 which the company could refuse to pa, l before maturity, which fact was stated l on the notes.
 l The total loss to the Colorado Fuel ant | Iron company caused by the strike wal l $S00,O00, MT. Welborn said.