The Washington times., 1914-04-06
JR., IS
PUT ON THE GRILL
House Committee Chairman
] Rebukes Him for His Non-
Interest in Miners.
IContinued from First Page }

lConunueo from First Page.)
them, and let them handle the situa,
Sion
Don't you think that the fact thai
Jhe Government is taking some interest
in that situation should be hint to yoU
40 take at least a passing interest ir
srour employees asked Chairman Fos
ter
II have taken more than a passing
Interest" said Mr.. Rockefeller. Il have
taken a deep interest. We have large
sums of money invested there, and the
conditions existing have been of con-
scern. All We can do is to keep In touch
with the officers representing us. and
the moment we believe they are no'
doing what is right it, is our duty to
take the matter up
Z After series of questions. Air. Rock
Teller said he did not know the average
wage of miners in the Colorado coal
mines region He said he had been
advised, however. that the ltockfeller
mines paid as high or higher wages
than any other and If this report were
found to be untrue he would have no
more TO do with the men who made 1t.
DO you know what rent your miners
pay for the homes you give thern?'
asked Chairman Foster.
II do not" said Mr.. Rockefeller.
DO you know that thev are net
allowed to own their homes?
II don't know anything about 1t.
Don't you think that as a man who
represents many millions on your board
of directors. you ought to know sCme-
Thing about these things?"
Conscience Acquits Him
; II do not think it lis possible s
DO you not think you ought to get
eff the board?' -
''If L had failed in doing my duty
-o,,Id raSi0p l,,It INV co, sciepca eufire-
" acquits me-"
Don't you think these miners ought
70 b. allowed to own their homes, as
It is an incentive?'
do not see that the answer is tmpor-
tant"
Pressed futther along this line, Mr.
Rockefeller said that il miners had a
ten or twenty years contract it would
be all right for them 20 own their
bones, but he suggested that mine
work is uncertain.
Have your Officers ever reported to
you that the men wanted to buy their
homes"
They have not. II they had I would
have left the matter In their hands"
! Mr.. Rockefeller was asked if he knew
that machine guns had been imported
from the West Virginia coal region for
use in the Colorado mines. He said
he knew nothing about 1t.
Mr.. Foster.
,''I should say that our rIen ought
% be protected" said Mr.. Rockefeller.
IF I had anything to say TO our Off
GERS, would tell them TO protect their
men"
Even to the extent OF usirg machine
runs?" snapped Chairman Foster.
Would Order Protection.
7 would not tell then how to pro-
tect. I would jusa say protect" replied
the determined Mr.. Rockefeller
Did the directors authorize the pur-
chase of machine guns and the en-
ployment of Baldwin-Seltz detectives
Not that i know o." said Mr.
Rockefeller. that would De left to the
officers"
:, The millionaire witness estimated that
me strike Will have cost his concern
10000 by the end of the fiscal year.
He was unable to say what money, IL
any, had been used for purchasing guns
to intimidate the strikers.
Chairman Foster. reminding Mr..
pothirg about the directors meeting,
asked:
Are you a dummy director?'
I do not so regard myself" said
Rockefeller.
He was asked what he regarded as
the duties of a director.
Mr.. Rockefeller replied that a direc-
tors duty is to find the ablest men Pos
sible to operate a business, and then
trust in them so long as they are
worthy of trust.
DO you remember" asked Mr. Fos-
last September?'
Il guess there was one held re-
sponded Mr.. Rockefeller.
With 5000 or more men on strike,
was that meeting not of sufficient i'm
portance for you to attend?" demanded
the chairman.
III you mean I should have gone TO
Denver to attend the meeting said
Mr.. Rockefeller, II will say it is not by
attending meetings OF the board Of di-
rectors or stockholders that l keep in
touch: II is through the officers. !
have not been in Denver in ten years.
lf had considered it necessary to go
In person. 1 would have gone
Asked Pointed Question.
You 90 not think. then" said Con-
gressman Byrns of South Carolina
with a touch of sarcasm. that a strike
Of several thousand men is anything OF
Importance"
: I get ufll reports from Mr.. Bowers
and Mr.. Welborn and l keep In touch
that way answered Mr.. Rockefeller.
% Mr.. Rockefeller added that he had
sufficient confidence in these men and
tnat Mr.. Welborn had been brought up
with the company and was conspicuous
for his welfare work.
: When 1 visited the camp some years !
ago" said M. Rockefeller. Il was most |
Gratified by the efforts made for the in !
6ustrial and social welfare of the work !
ers"
> You realize" said Mr.. Foster. that |
since last September this terrible strike |