Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-21
ROCKEFELLER DENIES
ROLE Of DICTATOR
pREaENTs DETAILED STATEMENT
in DEFENSE OF HIMSELF in
COLORADO STRIKE.
STRIKE NOT CONDUCTED
FROM NEW YORK OFFICE
Details and Management Left Entire
~ 70 Company Officials in Colorado,
He Says - Denies His Company
pushed Prosecutions Against Mine
Leadsrs-Plans to Visit Colorado.

He Say8 - Denies his Company
pushed Prosecutions Against Mine
Leadsrs-Plans to Visit Colorado.
Washington. May 21-John D. Rookie
teller, Jr., read detailed statement at
the resumption today Of his examina-
ton before the industrial relations
commission in connection with the
Colorado strike. He reaffirmed his
denial that he was the directing mind
In the strike and suggestions he made
for bringing an end to the Industrial
strife.
Mr.. Rockefeller. In support his con-
tention that every effort was made to
bring about peace, read letters and
kilograms containing the substance of
suggestions made by him and associ-
ates to the Denver Office Of the Col
orado Fuel and Iron Company during
the strike.
Mr.. Rockefeller denied that he OF his
associates had anything to do with the
prosecution Of John r. Lawson, mine
union officer. recently convicted OF
murder in Colorado. as he said news
papers have stated.
To Visit Colorado.
Mr.. Rockefeller reiterated his an
nounced intention Of visiting Colorado
to investigate conditions, which he
said had SO far been prevented by an
unfortunate succession Of events. He
assured the commission that In the
meantime officers Of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company are cooperating
with employees to improve conditions
and that these efforts are meeting with
gratifying success. Mr.. Rockefeller
also gave the commission the state
ment OF denial he made to the press
on April Is last. in answer to the
charge that correspondence fled with
the commission shows that he ever
cised "a personal influence that ex-
tended even to the state house at Dem
yer, and presumed to dictate letters
that went out to the president of the
United States and to the governors OF
the states, over the signature Of the
governor Of Colorado"
After quoting from the statement he
made at the commissions hearings in
New York last January, to the effect
that he never sought to dictate poll
ley or to arbitrarily control any stu
alton relative to the strike Mr.. Rookie
Teller said that "all policies, as well as
matters Of detail, were decided upon
and carried out by the executive Off
GERS at Denver without asking our
advice !"
Local Officials Conducted Strike.
Neither my New York associates
not conducted the strike. As my as
sociates and I acquired fuller knowl-
edge Of the situation, our efforts were
directed to making suggestions which
we hoped might help In terminating
the controversy.
Mr.. Rockefeller then gave the Sub
stance Of a suggestion which he made
to the Denver Office during the strike"
quoting the letters and kilograms
bringing forth these suggestions.
The suggestions Mr.. Rockefeller
grouped under ten headings as folloks:
That an investigation by three fed
eral judges be invited: that provision
be made for injured employees and their
families; that disinterested mediators
be appointed to intervene; that the OPP
orators reiterate their acceptance OF
Governor Ammon's proposition Of set
Element; that plan to get together be
than union recognition, be submitted
to board to be appointed by the pres
ident of the United States; that plan
of publicity be developed; that a plan
of organization to secure collective bar
gaining and opportunity for presenting
employees grievances be considered;
suggestion in regard to President VIII
sons plan OF truce and that plan Of
self government for employees be con-
sidered.'
More Deniais Made.
Mr.. Rockefeller denied the statement
J hat II knew on the admission Of my
own agents in the field that the Col
orado Fuel and Iron Company controlled
the prices and fixed the working condi-
tions at the mines" He said the
wrong conclusion was drawn from a
letter from Mr.. Bowers to him In which
Mr.. Bowers referred to the prices or
wages paid for men for mining coal
and not to the prices at which coal
was sold. The Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company as the largest factor In the
field, he said, was usually first in maxi
ing changes in operating conditions.
their lead being sometimes followed
and sometimes disregarded.
Regarding statements that he and
his associates participated In the pros
ecution OF John r. Lawson, Mr.. Rookie
Teller said: II desire to state un-
eauivocal1y that neither nor any of
my associates has had any connection
4 whatsoever with this case. feel and
have so expressed myself very explic-
fly that when private interests. either
Individual or corporate, participate in
criminal prosecutions, the proceedings
tend to lose that impartial quality
which should characterize the admins
tration Of Justice"
Not Interested In Prosecutions.
Mr.. Rockefeller declared that when
he learned that the trial was coming
on he made careful inquiry ito assure
myself that the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company was not participating in any
way in the prosecutions" and that he
was assured that this was the fact
md that no deviation from this policy
would be permitted by the officers Of
The company In any prosecutions.
I'm reviewing recent events In Coll
orado," he continued while 1t is
doubtless true that many of those who
had part In them would in the light
OF present knowledge. have acted diff
ferently in many respects, can only
ray for myself that at each step did
what at the time seemed to me right
ana wise. AS ] see It. the vital ques-
tons now are these: Are conditions as
tYev ought To beS II not are sincere