The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-21
]. ROCKEFELLER, JR.,
Dimes WITH MINERS
Tells Colorado Union Leader
He Wants to End Labor
Capital Conflict.
HOBNOBS WITH DIGGERS
Orders New Houses for Men
His Arrest on Murder
Charge Threatened.

DENVER. Sept. 2o.-John H. Rookie
feller. Jr.. who had travelled all the way
from New York without his destination
being known. stepped from a Pullman
sleeping car on Santa Fe train In
Trinidad. Col. this morning.
Mr.. Rockefeller was keeping his
promise made to Mother Jones last
winter to visit Colorado and see condi-
tions for himself as they really exist.
lie Immediately began an investigation
OF the various coal mining camps in
the southern fields controlled by the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.
Except for the report that the J. J.
Hill interests were seeking to acquire
the holdings OF the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company Mr.. Rockefeller had
little to say to any one except mine ON
ployees.
''If there is anything in this report. I
know nothing about IT," he said. 1T
was n pretty good guess on the part OF
some reporters. Hill IL one man who
company II he were 40 inclined"
The party first visited the Ludlow.
The position Of the strikers and militia
and their movements during the day
were pointed out and explained Mr.,
Rockefeller listened without comment.
From Ludlow the party went to Ber-
wind. where Mr. Rockefeller left his car
and went among the laborers
Eats with the Miners.
He sat down and ate dinner with
coal diggers at the camp boarding house
at Berwind just to see what kind of
food was served to the men. Later he
talked TO a dust begrimed mine fore
man.
He did not introduce himself TO this
man nor did the miners at the boarding
house know who was the serious faced
young man who was eating at the same
table with them.
Later on, however. Mr.. Rockefeller did
break his resolve to learn things incog-
nito. II was az Berwlnd where he sal
for half an hour this morning on the
porch Of tumble down shack OF the
Berwind Coal Mining Company and
talked with Dan Morelli. representative
OF the local miners in this Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company camp.
81. .ook here, Mr.. MorellL" said Mr.
Rockefeller. 81 want to have heart tC
/ heart talk with you. Just forget that
am wealthy man and talk frankly e
me as you would TO any Of your brother
miners | believe this thing of labor
and capital fighting is all wrong ! an
devoting the biggest part of my time t'
! bringing about peace between labor an'
} capital. and | want YOU 10 tell ns'
frankly what | can do to help matters
i in this camp
Mr.. Morelli told Mr.. Rockefeller thai
I the new system inaugurated by j. +
4 Welborn. president of the Colorado Fue
and iron Company. was proving an eX
cellent help TO the men in the mines
I Nj. Welborn's plan is for the miners
/ to elect one of their number as repre-
( sentative { all the miners In the camp
/ This man has perfect liberty to taxi
up any grievance on the part OF tn
miners with any company official. Dan
/ Morelli was elected under this scheme.
Improvement In Homes.
Mr. Morelli told Mr. Rockefeller tha
, improvements might be made in III
homes provided for the miners by m
| company.
An right" said Mr.. Rockefeller. "let'
| go and see some of these hCmes. ] hav'
come West to see for myself II tn
reports OF conditions which my manager
have been sending me are absolutel.
! true"
Norelll and Mr.. Rockefeller then Wis
tied q dozen homes Of miners in IN
little settlement in Berwind. Tn" f'S
plaCe visited was one OF the Oldest house
in the camp.
This place does not look very In
yiting" said Mr.. Rockefeller "Wh
cannot we have better houses III plac
OF such buildings as this" he asked q
President Welborn, who had joined IN
party at that moment.
Mr.. Welborn explained To Mr. Rookie
feler that plans we're already drawn r.
rapllclng these old houses with new an
modern homes.
GLOW much rent do the men pay 10
n house ike this?" asked Mr., Rocke
feler.
"Two dollars for each room month,
said Morelli There are four rooms !
this house and that makes sS month.
"Well." asked Mr. Rockefeller, ID
you think 1t is worth it?'
Mr. Rockefeller then pointed to IN
yard -.
"Why cannot these people have som
good gardens here he asked
Mr. Morelii explained that no on
seemed to take an interest In sardeh
well" said Mr., Rockefeller, 81 thin
II would cut down their expenses
these women would devote some tim
10 gardens. think the company shoul
provide them with little gardens abot
each house, well fenced In and with
supply Of seed for staple vegetables"
May Try 10 Arrest Him.
Before Mr., Rockefeller leaves III
State he may be served with legal proc
ess charging him with murder
Demand is to be made at once on A
torney- General Farrar that an informi
ton be- fled, ana large mass OF ev
dence is to be presented to the state
legal counsellor to back up the d,
mand Whether or not Mr., Rockefellt
liz 10 be arrested depends ln large meai
ure upon the attitude of the Attorne,
General.
A. NJ. Belcher, counsel In chief Il
the National Organization of Unite
Mine Workers. Is on his way to Cole
RADIO for the express purpose OF insis
ing that action he taken against NJ
Rockefeller while he Is In the State.
William damon, representative of Il
miners in Colorado, said to-day thi
III.