The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-30
FUND NO MENACE,
SAYS JOHN DIR.
Possibility Of Foundations Dom
mating Country Suggested.
IMPOSSIBLE, He THINKS
Young Millionaire Believes People
Would Never Permit interference
With Churches, Schools or Selves.


With Churches, Schools or Selves.
The possibility that the great phil
anthropic foundations, with their I'M
mense esources,m might seek to dom
mate the churches, schools and PEG
pie Of the country "as the German mil
itarist idea mas uone since IoaV, Wa
suggested to John d. Rockefeller, Jr
at the investigation that is being con
Quoted in New York into the activt
ties OF the foundations Dy TIE leue4ai
commission on industrial relations.
Such an effort, Mr.. Rockefeller re
piled, never would be made because.
in the first place, the people OF the
United States would never tolerate
such a thing and, secondly, the foun
dations had no such idea. Their sole
purpose, he said, was to bring about
better conditions.
Referring to the Rockefeller foun
dation, he declared there was no dan
ger one hundred years from o thai
same high standard and ideals as
those who at present controlled its
policies.
He had no objection, he said, to a
court of last resort" consisting of the
president of the United States, the
governor of New York and the presi
dents Of several universities with the
power of veto over the foundation. He
did not believe that within the terms
OF it's charter the foundation could
participate in politics, lin the defense
of the trusts" or in anything Other
than it's stated philanthropical pur
poses.
could it circulate a party plat
form?" asked Chairman Walsh.
mo such thing has ever been
thought Of" the witness replied. Ger
tainly no such thing could ever be at
tempted"
"Under its charter, might not youl
foundation circulate editorials, crit
cisms of the government or of the
churches? Might it not buy a chain
of stores. organize a real estate com
pany, OF conduct propaganda in favor
of trade unions or workmen's com
pensation?" Mr.. Rockefeller thought
things. He had not considered the
questions, he said.
Mr.. Rockefeller was asked: "Whai
do o think is the underlying cause
of industrial unrest?" "If | thought
l knew" replied the witness, 81 LONG
ago would have given utterance to my
ideas. l urged an investigation by
the foundation in order to get at the
true cause Mr.. Rockefeller said thai
in his opinion employer and employe
do not come face to face Otter
enough"
Mr.. Rockefeller was then excused
He had been on the witness stand fol
the better part of three days.
AS Mr.. Rockefeller left the room
the sergeant-at-arms, Egan, handel
him a check for Sc, his fee as a wit
ness for three days at 81 a day. Mr.
Rockefeller folded the check up slow
ly, put it in his pocket and signed a
voucher for the amount.
Mrs. Belle alderman, who was ar
rested last summer in the Standard
Oil building, 26 Broadway, while TAX
ing part in the so-called mourners
parade, as a protest by the Industrial
Workers of the World against the
shooting of miners at Ludlow, Colo.
greeted Mr. Rockefeller when he
reached the city hall, where the hear
ings are being held. Tuesday she sale
she "forgaye Mr.. Rockefeller" fol
having her arrested. Wednesday she
brought him "a message of good will.
Mr.. Rockefeller shook hands and chat
ted with her several minutes.