New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-26
Accepts Responsibility for
Forcing Head of Rail-
road to Retire.
EX-PRESIDENT DEFTES
HIM TO TESTIFY
William Rockefeller Won't Face
Inquiry Board, on Physicians
Advice, II Is Said.

In the library where his father made
financial history j. P. Morgan made
last night his answer 10 the charges
s. Mellen. former president OF the New
Haven system, before the Interstate
Commerce Commission
Speaking for his father. Mr. Morgan
made a general denial Of Mellens
charge that the elder man actively in
terfered in the affairs of the New
Haven or concealed from Mellen facts
that he. As president should have been
conversant with. pointing out that in
the last ten years Of his life Mr.. Nor
gan. ST., was abroad one third of his
time, and in the last three years one
half of his time.
I've got nothing to say" said Mel
len when The Tribune called him up
on the long distance telephone at his
New Haven home last night TO ask IL
he had any comment 10 make upon
Mr.. Morgan's statement What's it
got TO do with me. anyway
The reporter explained that 1t was
an answer to his testimony.
Give me the substance OF it." an
swered the ex-president of the New
Haven. I've just got out OF bed"
The reporter did as he was asked.
~ testified under oath. Ny tssti-
mory stands as il was given. ] was
under oath. II Mr.. Morgan wants to
testify under oath no can do so, so far
as am concerned. Good night"
Morgan Offers Books.
Speaking for himself, Mr.. Morgan ac-
cepts full and complete responsibility
as director Of the New Haven and as
an individual In compelling Mellen to
sever his relations with the New
Haven, and offers to any proper tri-
bunal the books Of his father and OF
his firm for any inquiry or investisa-
tior that may be properly made.
Mr.. Morgan concludes his statement
with an appeal that the public, as we'll
as the stockholders in the New Haven.
hold ND the hand. Of the honest and
capable man" now in charge OF the
property.
1t was announced that the statement
would be ready for the press at 3
o'clock. Soon after that time Mr.. Nor
gan. who with his partner. Henry P.
Dawson, had been working on the doc
ument, came into the east room OF the
library and apologized for keeping the
reporters waiting.
The statement will be ready in q
few moments" he said. 1T will be all
that have TO say. l thought It best
to reduce II to writing. so that there
could be no possible misunderstand-
ing"
Half an hour later the typed shests
were passed out The reporters, leav-
ing. paused in the doorway to digest
the statement.
Have you light enough?" asked Mr..
Morgan, as he started for the machine
that was 10 take him TO his home in
Glen Cove.
Plenty" spoke up one OF the sro-o.
It's bully statement, a very human
document"
Il don't see anything humorous about
IT," Mr.. Morgan snapped back.
Pardon replied the reporter. but
you misunderstood me. ! said human
not humorous. It's vastly different
from the lawyer-like statements that
we usually get"
There are some things that law
yer cannot do" said Mr. Morgan. This
is one Of them. There's nothing for a
lawyer here
Spent Day on Statement.
The statement represents the greater
part Of the bankers days work yester-
day During the time Mellen was on
the stand in Washington Mr.. Morgan
was cruising on the Corsair. On the
Yacht ne was advised by wireless OF
the trend OF Mellens testimony. and
also had some OF the newspaper re-
ports. but he wished 10 have the tes-
timony exactly as II was. Awaiting
him was the stenographic report OF
Mellens examination, making several
sizeablc volumes. These he went
through carefully, and the statement.
az finally revised, is az printed In an
other column.
In his informal chat with the report
ers last night Mr.. Morgan was genial.
but IL was very apparent that beneath
the surface he felt very strongly about
the way in which Mellen had held his
father up to the public gaze. With
him his fathers memory Is almost
religion. and what he left unsaid, more
Continued On page Z. column