The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-24
ROCKEFELLER, JR.,
MAY TESTIFY IN
Big STRIKE AGAIN
New Evidence COntradicts For
mcr Testimony. Says In
vestigatOr Walsh.
ASSERTS THE ORDERS
WENT FROM NEW YORK

KANSAS CITY. April 23.-John y.
Rockefeller. Jr., and officials OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company may
be recalled by the United States Com
mission OF Industrial Relations when
the commission resumes its public hear
ings In Washington May I. as a re-
suit Of additional revelations bearing on
the recent Colorado coal strike. The
new move is direct result OF mass
OF letters and kilograms which came
into the possession to-day OF Frank +.
Walsh, chairman Of the commission.
The correspondence shows. Mr.. Walsh
said tonight. that John D. Rockefeller,
Jr.. who testified before the commission
in New York and also before tho Con-
gress Investigating Committee. that he
had kept his hands off the strike sit
uation and had no knowledge OF con-
dtions in the coal fields. was in reality
the directing mind throughout the
struggle
That he exercised personal influence
I
at Denver and presumed to dictate let
tiers 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.
That ne withheld from the Department
OF Labor AT Washington information
| asked when Secretary Wilson sought t.
avert the strike before II began. That
lie knew on the admission OF his own
agents in the fields that the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company controlled the
prices and fixed the working conditions
at the mines.
That constant and full Geographic re-
ports and long letters OF particularizatlon
covering every phase Of the contest and
the proposals for settlement we're sent
TO him from the mrs, ana throughout the
period OF the strike.
Tha; nc Informed the mine executives
that ne had refused Secretary Wilson j
offer OF mediation and promised to sup
port them in their stand TO the end
says lie Has Evidence.
The commission has to-day made q
! "a re cf-wrr~cvrd,' Mr. Walsh said TO-
| night "a mass Of correspondence not
only showing that the Rockcfeliers were
| personally IN constant touch with every
phase Of the Colorado coal strike situa
! ton. hut that they knew the strike was
/ coming and were prepared for II, We
{ have lr.ters of Mr.. Rockefeller, Jr., OF
| J. r. Welporn, president OF the Colorado
/ Fuel and Iron Company OF l.. NJ Bow
ers, chairman Of its executive cpmmittca
NJ starr j. Murphy. personal representa-
tive Of John II. Rockefeller, Sr., and oi
/ Ivy Lee. his publicity agent which make
I t. plain that every step taken by the
+ Rockefeller AGENTS in Colorado IN thc
great strike, in which men. women an
j children los, their lives. was taken with
the full knowledge and assent of -
/ Broadway. New York.
More than that, these letters show
/ that even before the strike began II
September. 1913. the Department OF La
hor at Washington sent Ethelbert Stew
art of the Bureau OF Labor statistics
to New York to see Mr.. Rockefeller
and try TO avert the struggle. Mr. Muir
ply. acting under instructions from Mr.
Rockefeller. told the Government agent
that they could not interfere. that they
knew nothing of the situation In Colo
RADIO and that the entire matter was
in the hands of the mine executives al
b the scene.
, The same day o! the interview Mr.
Murphy wrote full account of II e
Mr.. bowers at Denver and Mr.. Rower'
wrote back highly praising Mr.. Murphy
for his discretion in not giving tbs
Government agent any information.