The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-25
BURGLARS AGAIN
ROB DAVIS STORE

StuPtSu " SASIC156 a hluu Vi aUSo
lutism over. the coal industry in
Colorado and particularly that
have sought to dictate a policy Of
non-recognition of unions. An atti-
tude toward industry and to-
ward labor such as is here implied
isso abhorent to me personally and
SO contrary to the spirit Of my whole
purpose and training that cannot
allow these allegation to pass unno-
ticed. While 1t has been said that
I exercised an absolute authority In
debating to the management of the
Colorado Fuel and Irion Company,
lit has also been said that I have been
too Indifferent and that as a director
/ should have exercised more author
fly. Clearly, both cannot be true.
What are the fact?
First, with reference to my at
titude. toward labor unions: I be-
lleve 1t to be just as proper and
advantageous for labor to associate
itself into organized groups for the
advancement of its legitimate inter-
ests as for capital to continue for the
same object. Such associations OF
labor manifest themselves in pro-
, noting collective bargaining, in an
effort to secure better working and
living conditions, in providing ma
chinery whereby grievances may
easily and without pfeju6fce to the
individual be taken up with the
management. Sometimes they pro-
vide benefit features, sometimes
they seek to increase wages, but
whatever their specific purpose, so
long as 1t is to promote the we'll
being Of the employees, having always
due regard for the Just interests Of
the employer and the. public, leaying
every worker free to associate him
self with such groups or to work In
dependently, as he may choose--t
favor them most heartily. Combi-
nations Of capital are sometimes
conducted in an unworthy manner.
contrary to law and "a disregard of
the interest both of labor and the
public. Such combinations cannot
vigorously dealt with. Although
combinations of this kind are the ex-
ception. such publicity y generally
given to their unsocial acts that all
combinations of capital, however
rightly managed or broadly bench
cent. are thereby brought under sus-
piclon. Likewise, 1t sometimes hap
pens that combinations of labor are
conducted without just regard for
the rights of the employer or the
public, and methods and practices
adopted which, because unworthy or
unlawful, are deserving Of public
censure. Such organizations Of la
Dor bring discredit and suspicion up
on other organizations which are le-
climate and useful, Just as Is the
case with improper combinations OF
capital, and they should be similarly
dealt with. should be the last.
however, to allow the occasional
failure in the working Of the princi-
pie Of the organization OF labor to
prejudice me against the principle
itself, for in that principle I st7c.se
~ believe.
"As respects the question of the
recognition or non-recognitton Of lab
or unions In Colorado, my attitude has
been in conformity with the views
have expressed relative to the respon-
! sibilities of stocllho lders, directors
and managers. The hiring and dis
| charging OF men and the framing Of
agreements as respects the same are
functions which have regarded as
riehtfully belonging to the manage
ment and not to the stockholders or
directors The Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company has been managed on
this principle. The decision OF the
Office is with respect to the recogni-
ton Of the union was reached without
any consultation or communication
with me, and had no knowledge OF
| their decision until after the strike
had been declared
The correspondence between him
self and the officers of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company during the
strike, which has already been made
public, showed, Mr.. Rockefeller said,
that he had not hesitated to make
suggestions for more adequate repre-
sentation OF the employees in the de-
termination OF matters pertaining to
their working conditions; but that
he had studiousdy avoided anything
which might afford ground for the be-
Mef that he was seeking to dictate a
policy or arbitrarily control any sit
uation. ., d Il.
! me only coal properly ii colorado