The chronicle=news., 1914-08-20

| C0is}'TfeAN
Upon his attention being called to
Mr. Roosevelt's letter to Mr.. E. P.
CostiGan, Mr.. J. F. Wclborn. presi-
dent OF the Colorado Fuel & Iron
Com 2any, made the statement which
follows:
IBy ). F. iMelborn.]
Mr.. Roosevelt's letter. is direct
attack upon the state OF Colorado: it
is also an adroit effort to inject the
Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. into the
political campaign.
This company is the largest indus
try in this state. 1t employs about
TO- 900 Colorado men and its annual
pay roll is over $1O,OOO.000. In 1914
this company sold $24.3t5.SS7 worth
OF goods-only 10 per cent Of which
were utilized in Colorado. 1t paid
out in Colorado for expenses over
SEQ, 100000.
The policy of this company is to
lprotect, not to destroy; to be fair,
not to sling mud. We are for Colo
rado. We believe in inviting capital
to come to use from every quarter to
Ehelp develop the state. We are
tColorado institution, seeking to up
build this state. Our management
believer that every effort to traduce
the name Of this state deserves re-
pud!atfon.
ILL ADVISED. HE SAYS
1t Is not to the interest of Colora-
do that politicians should excoriate
men in other states who have invest
ed their money in a Colorado corpor-
alton, simply because they do not
live here. Mr.. Roosevelt's effort to
make political capital out of Mr..
Rockefeller's investment in this COM
lpany is not we'll advised.
Mr.. Roosevelt says he believes "the
actions Of the C. F. & l. have been
ultimately responsible for the pres
ent dreadful condition. and that Mr..
Rockefeller, "as the largest share
tholde: and controlling force Is more
Irresponsible than any other one man
for the conditions In Colorado as re-
CARDS this. company" and that "a
situation of civil war has arisen be-
cause injustice and wronsdoing on
the side Of the corporation has fin
ally been met by violence and wrong
doing on the side Of the employees"
I What warrant has Mr.. Roosevelt
for any such sweeping statement? :?
Is this information based upon n
careful study of sworn evidence. the
findings OF responsible commercial
bodies, orNiponn ex parte, statements
Thy persons seeking to capitalize in
dustrial discomfort to obtain politic-
lal office? Certain It is, he did not
fsecure his information from the nu-
merous responsible bodies who
'tsought to ascertain the truth In
|hfs latest annual report as inspector
of coal mines for Colorado, Mr.. James
lDalrym2le, himself strong union
sympathizer. said: r5 ...
/ QUOTES FROM REPORT
81 believe 1t Is fair to give credit
to those operators who have coop
Grated with this department in maxi
ing improvements recommended be-
yond the requirements of the pres
j ent mining law. In ackonwledg-
ing the concessions made by them,
1t must be further added that there
is no authority embodied in the law
by which these conceded improve
ments could have been enforced, no
matter how essential they were to
protect the life and health of the en-
ployes. The Colorado Fuel G. Iron
company ranks first in making i'm
provements not compulsory or de-
manded by the law; 1t complied
cheerfully with most of our recon-
'mendations.' #llT
i The writer in the Pittsburg Sur
Ivey," whose criticism Of Mr.. Roosc-
welt quotes, visited our suoerintend-
ent before writing his article, but
refused absolutely to comply with
our urgent invitation that he visit
our mines and observe conditions at
first hand.
! WILL OBEY THE LAW
i Mr.. Roosevelt quotes an unnamed
newspaper as demanding that he and
his friends should cease from polio
!. ing business organizations such as
the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company
and yet that they should police the
lawlessness of the workingmen." The
inuendo here is unworthy of man
Ewho is held by the country in so high
lesteem as Mr.. Roosevelt. The Colo
rado Fuel G Iron company asks no
! exemption from policing. It seeks to
obey the law. Any of its employ es
who violate the law do so upon peril
of expulsion from the company's SER
j vice. -" f'
II Mr.. Roosevelt prOclaims his belief
in the right OF non-union man, to