The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-01-28
ADMITS KNOWING,
LITTLE OF LABOR
R33sa1..3I.3T, j., H.W3T3r, Be-
i.aso3 In U.AGaS
Qy3STI,.5J AG3UT COLORADO

Witness at Industrial Commission
Fearing Gays II information Con-
corning Alleged Abuses In Coal
FiaI15 We're Supplied Him He
Would See That Conditions Are
Charged.
New York, Jan. 26.-John D. Rookie
Teller, Jr., active head of the inter
ests acquired or bull. up by his father,
occupied the witness stand for five
hours at the inquiry being conducted
here by the United States commission
on industrial relations into the great
phi.aathro2ic foundations and the
cause Of industrial unrest.
NJ. RockofelIer freely admitted that
he had no knowledge concerning labor
questions, but declared he was in
favor of labor organizing and taking
action, provided it kept within the
law.
It was seldom that he answered
Yes or NO" Almost without excen-
ton he gayn much more information
than was asked for. however remote
such information might be from the
actual point Of the question. He was
always in command of himself and
suave and uEruftled.
One of the points made in his state
ment and to which in his testimony
Mr.. Rockefeller frequently reverted
was that his father would have saved
money if he had put it in a savings
bank and had never had anything to
do with the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company. He declared all the surplus
earnings of the company We're being
devoted to the improvement of the
property. raising wages and alleviat-
ing the conditions of the workingmen.
Another idea to which he constanflv
came back was that in the conduct of
large enterprises responsibility must
be divided and delegated and that
having once selected an executive of.
ficer in whom they believe the direc-
tors cannot be expected to discharge
him the moment some irresponsible
person criticises him.
He said he believed that labor
should have a voice in determining
the conditions of employment. but ho
declared emphatically that neither he
nor any other business man would per
NIT workmen to dictate how that bust
ness was to be run.
Ac fp tbo oord;+;o,r ,,.I;oI
to obtain in the mining camps of Colo.
RADIO, Mr. Rockefeller told the commits
sion that if a description of the al
legged abuse were supplied to him he
would take personal charge of the
matter and would see to It that they
wee Tc--.''-d.
NJ N0ahn'al1ar answered n series
of questions as to the manner in which
his father decides upon making an in
vestment by saying that he controlled
these investments. but left the details
of investigations to men in the office.
He said that the executive officers
in Colorado were primarily RESPONSE
BILE for the labor policy. The scope
given to them, he said, to maintain
proper labo" conditions was the same
as is usually given to men in their
position.
"Do you believe that labor unions
should be maintained democratic.
ally?" asked Mr. Walsh.
81 believe fully in democracy and in
freedom replied the witness, "where
that freedom doesn't infringe upon the
rights of others
Mr.. Rockefeller answered next
many questions respecting labor
unions by saying that he would not ex,
press an opinion because he had never
studied the matters involved. AS for
his responsibility as a director to
know about these matters he said that
he felt 1t, but had neither the time
nor the ability to study them, where
fore that task had been delegated to
the trained men of the Rockefeller
foundation.
do you believe the workers are
entitled to a voice in determining
labor conAitiona?"
DelleNe That LABOR SHOulQ nave
every access to those who as directors
or executives have the management
of the business. But l do not think
that the owner of a property should
be expected to turn over the manage
ment Of it to anyone who wants to as
sumo that responsibility. I think or
ganization is necessary and that the
prosperity Of the country is being best
preserved thereby"
He admitted in reply to a question
that 10 work seven days week for
any length Of time was a hardship.
he co"'o no. s~v, however, what pro-
portion of year "a Womb consider
if sufficient to mak~ "ouiu 0oii'iuel
week a hardship to laB'eii u"Ss
worked seven days week h. ne nau
a considerable period of time. u lor
Dry Russia Shows Gain In Savings
London. Jan. ga dispatch from
Petrograd says M. Kharitonon' comp
troller of the Russian treasury, oe
o1ored that owing to the great IN