The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-25
Witness SCOLDS
.CHAIRMAN-WALSH
Canadian Says He Does Not
Like Method of Conduct
ing Inquiry.
SHARP CLASH IS RESULT
Division Director of the Rockefeller
Foundation Shows Spunk
at Hearing.
SHARP CLASH IS RESULT

a SnaTp CLASH between FRANK Z.
Walsh, chairman Of the Industrial Rela-
tons Commission. and W. L. Mckenzie
King enlivened the closing hours of the
hearing of the commission yesterday.
Mr.. King, who is director of the indus
trial relations division of the Rockefel-
Ter Foundation and a member of the Lib
eral party of Canada, resented the effort
on part Of Chairman Walsh to make it
appear that the plan for conducting a
course of studies into settlement of la
Dor disputes and especially the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company strike in Colo
RADIO. precluded the appointment of any
union labor member on any of the
boards for the settlement of the labor
troubles as they might arise.
There is nothing in the plan which
would preclude any member of a union
from serving on these boards said the
witness.
Friendly to Labor Unions.
He had stated to the commission that
he was friendly to labor organiza tions
and had announced his candidacy for
the Dominion Parliament as a Liberal.
and that he had already been attacked
by his political enemies for having taken
employment with the Rockefeller Foun-
dation in an effort to discredit him with
the labor organizations in politics.
unionism.' replied the witness. THE
first thesis I ever wrote was on the His
tory of Trade Unionism.' "
Then suddenly flushing up as Chair
man Walsh persisted in a line of ques-
tons that suggested that the plan for
the settlement of labor troubles was de-
signed to exclude labor union members
from service, the witness charged that
the investigation conducted by Chairman
Walsh had been very unfair and that
some of the witnesses had been treated
badly. Even the other members of the
commission think So Mr.. King added
Then you do not like the way we
conduct Investigations in this coun-
try" quizzed Chairman Walsh
"Oh, no. l did not say that; do
not like the way in which you are
conducting this investigation" re-
piled the witness. II acquit your as
sociates."
You exonerate the other members
of the committee" inquired the chair
man.
The witness replied that he did
How much salary do you get from
Mr.. Rockefeller?' demanded the
chairman. leaning forward.
Refuses to Answer.
Il do not recognize your right to
dsh tHdt QUESTION, lOr IL is not per-
tinent to this inquiry" sharply re-
piled Mr.. King.
You needn't answer unless you
WISH" replied the chairman Other
witnesses have been asked the same
question"
Chairman Walsh intimated that Mr..
King did not like the inquiry be-
cause of the questions asked John D.
Rockefeller. Jr
ha,,
from the start" the witness replied,
and believe that the way it has been
conducted will destroy the effect OF
what it does. and l have reason to
believe that other members of the
commission believe as l do"
Mr.. King had not concluded his tes-
timony when the commission recessed
until today. After the recess nc
sought out Chairman Walsh to ex-
make him appear as an enemy of
labor unions.
You may go as far as you like" said |
Mr.. Walsh. II will conduct this exami- |
nation in my own way
The chairman, explaining his manner !
of examining witnesses, which has been |
criticised, said privately!
Il have been cross-examin,ng witnesses
for twenty years. l will get the facts,
which is the important thing
The first witness of the day was L. NJ
Bowers. of Binghampton. n Y, who was
vice president and later chairman of the
executive board of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company during the trying times of
the labor riots in Colorado. Mr.. Bow
ers explained that he had ben identified
with John II. Rockefeller's interests for
twenty years and that he is now acting
as one OF the advisory committee of
Mr. Rockefeller.
Was a Tenderfoot.
Il soon discovered that I was a ten
derfoot,'' said the witness, who admitted
that he deferred to the suggestions of
the men who had been longer on the
ground than himself. He said that he
knew little or nothing of the details
Of the strike and the rfoting. He ac-
quilted both Rockefellers.. father and
son, of any part in the labor troubles
He asserted that neither Of them had
sver made suggestion to him.
Mr.. Bowser said that he did not ap-
,rove Of Spies" in the labor unions.
md expressed the opinion that men who
would engage in such work were hardly
o be trusted. He said he had very lit
lie confidence In the bulletines put out
" the company's press agent
Il never saw but one Of them and I crfti-
Used 1t" he replied. He referred to the