The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-22

DENVER. Sept. 21.-Joln u. Rockefel-
Ter, Jr.. ate dinner in his shirt sleeves to-
day with a group of coa miners In grimy
overalls at the little grub shack at
Berwind.
At Valdez. dressed In overalls, he dug
coal for twenty minutes In one Of his
own mines. Then he walked t~hree-quar-
tiers of a mile into the tunnel to the heart
Of the workings. The first place he Wis
tied was a spot where the miners were
picking down coal from the veins. Mr..
Rockefeller watched for a few minutes
and said:
81 would like to try that for a moment
Will one of you boys lend me a pick?"
A miner handed Mr.. Rockefeller his
pick. Then for twenty minutes he
worked side by side with the laborers in
his company's employ.
MFR. Rockefeller shook hands with
every mar in the group. Then he gave a
short talk to the men.
w are all partners in a way" he
said. Capital can't get along without
you men and you men can't get along
without capital. We should be friends
In the very nature Of the case. and ! am
certainly anxious to do everything In my
power TO make us friends.
when anybody comes along and tells
you that capital and labor can't get
along together that man Is your worst
neiny We are getting along friendly
enough here In this mine right now. and
there IL no reason why you men cannot
get along with the managers OF my COM
pany when | am back in New York"
Mr.. Rockefeller strolled up to the
boarding house when the big gong
Changed out the u-on hour. hung his
dusty coat on a nail. tool his turn AT
' 49,. -F-uN- at. A.wHA .ANAA oil Fhn .f haF
hungry arr ivals used. and then sought
a dry corner Of the one big roller towel.
He was introduced 10 each OF the men
with a simple mir Borovlch-Mr. Rookie
%feller' or pan Morelli-Mr. Rookie
Teller"
want. TO Better Conditions.
Il want YOU men to talk straight
from the shoulder" he said over and
Yer. II want 10 make things better
in these coal camps. | want you to
believe me sincere when | tell you that,
| can't get out he'e often, and now that
| am here | want to learn all that | can.
Tell me how things can BE- improved
here. Maybe. OF course, . u suggestions
can't be carried cut. But II they are
practical and mean genuine improve
! ment | want - hear them. | want TO
ge; first hand inf rmation about the way
this business Is being conducted. I've
had to lake the word Of the company's
officers a mighty long time. Now
wan; to see what actually has been done
n hear wha; M of you nave 10 say
The men generally replied that since
the strike many Improvements had been
made that were fast turning Berwsnd
into a IN del camp. old frame houses
for the families { the men are be ng
torn down and replaced by neat, moderr
concrete dwellings.
There are many things YOU men
could help US DO In the WY OF improve
ments.' said the visitor. "For Instance
when you get those nice new homes
don't Jet your wives throw Stops righ,
out into the roadway In front Of your
doors. Don't let your goats run wild
and eat up every sign OF the gardens
that a few OF you have started &c
develop. Don't let your ch!ldren care.
lessly take hatchets and hack at beau.
tifui trees like those over In that grove
so that the trees are dying. Give Us d
hand To make this place a clean. mode
camp"
After the men had returned to work
Mr.. Rockefeller climbed up the steer
side OF the canyon to the carefully fenced
ledge where is perChci the school house
II was warm and on the way he shed
his coat and vest and rolled up hi,
] trousers lie reached the schoo. just "A.
the children were having recess. ,They
he followed the youngsters into the
building and listened to several songs
by the pupils ~ the smaller grades
When Miss Eda Campbell. the teacher
! asked him II he wouldn't say something
to The children he seemed pleased.