The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-02-02
MORGAN DENIES
FIRM CONTROLS
HALF RAILROADS
UNITED STATES
1T is His First Public APP
pearance as Spokesman
For the Vast Financial In
terests of the Morgan Co.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

New York, Feb. ii p Morgan,
testifying today at the Industrial re-
lations commissions inquiry into great
philanthropic foundations and the
cause of industrial unrest, denied his
banking firm dominated half the rail-
roads Of the United States The de-
NAL resulted from the statement at
tributed to Samuel Untermeyer that
two banking firms virtually controlled
all the railroads.
1--WE certainly do not control half
the roads, Morgan asserted, addirlg
with n laugh: Il don't know anything
about Kuhn. Loeb and Company's
business. but Mr. Untermyer scertainly
us mistaken
1T was Morgan'ss first public appear
ance as spokesman for the vast .finan-
cial interests Of the Morgan Company.
When he arrived at the hearing John
Mitchell, former president of the
United Mine Workers of America and
now a member of New York state
Worlrmenis Compensation Commission
was on the stand Mitchell character
lied as simply absurd" the Rockefel-
Ter plan of settling labor troubles in
Colorado.
Morgan confessed a lack of know
ledge OF labor conditions in the corpor-
atoms OF which he is director. He
said he favored the open shop"
REFERRED TO NEW PLAN.
John Mitchell's reference was to the
plan Of collective bargaining suggested
to the Rockefeller interests by w. l..
Mackenzie-K King. former commission
err of labor OF Canada, who was re-
| fxr - pnNLofait<T
foundations to conduct an investiga-
ton into industrial relations.
Mr.. Mitchell thought the referendum
and recall was OF advantage to labor.
Speaking OF compensation for work
men, Mr.. Mitchell said it was effective
in more ways than one.
when" he said, ''it costs more to
kill q man than 1t does to save him
the employers vii save their workers"
Mr.. Mitchell said that where men are
unorganized. the death rate Is higher
and the wage rate lower.
For instance" he said, "the death
rate In Colorado and West Virginia Is
about per 1000. In other localities
where the men are not organized, they
are inclined to take risks that organ
lied men will not take"
He said that he did not know just
how much the partial control OF
financial interest over the industries
had affected the workers. It however,
appeared, he said, that the financial
institutions were able to control the
situation" He cited as an example
the settlement of the anthracite coal
strike of 1902 when ]. p. Morgan IL
Co., suggested q satisfactory solution
after one offered by the railroads had
been turned down.
Referring wages to the Pennsylvania
anthracite region. he said they were
about 40 per cent. higher than before
the settlement Of the strike
Mitchell testified he believed certain
improvements had resulted toward the
betterment Of the conditions. As an
example, he pointed to the United
States steel corporation.
"On the other hand" Mr.. Mitchell
continued, the great com oinations
khave done much harm to the working
Nmen. For instance. many OF the big
torporations refused to treat with or
sAnized labor. This Is a great mis-
Ike.
Mr.. Mitchell said 1t was the denial
2. industrial Association" that caused
IA Aiustrial, revolutions" in Patterson,
ckt virginia, Lawrence. Mass, and
otni r places. There can be no indus
tria peace. he said, until all working
Nhle have the right to bargain for
Sis sale Of their labor.
forking people do not want bene-
pend =. ~ ,,o,,t ~ hargain col.
Eesy." he said.