New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-21

As she appears IN the greek play 10
i'm
nothing more than rough draft OF
statement concerning the Colorado Sit
ustion. which had drawn up M answer
20 statements which had appeared III
the press, but had never been used. a
copy Of this memorandum, which. as /
wrote Mr. Lee on June TO- 1914, was
incomplete and only suggestive, was
given 20 the press some weeks ago. III
reference TO Mr.. Lees suggestion It oc-
Cured to me that this memorandum
contained material which Mr.. Lee might
lind helpful in that connection.
"Personally. | have never seen copy
Of the draft which was sent. Major
Boughton has since advised Mr. Lee
tina. he went no further with the sug-
gestions, and that neither General
Chase nor Governor Ammons ever knew
that such suggestions had been made.
Mr.. Rockefeller gave in detail the
various steps he had suggested from
time TO time 10 the Denver office or the
Fuel and Iron Company 10 prove he had
earnestly tried TO bring about a peace
ful settlement of the ttrike. He made
a vigorous denial Of statements that
he had in any way taken part IN the
prosecution Of John 4. Lawson.
81 felt, and have so expressed myself
very explicitly" Mr.. Rockefeller SAID,
that when private interests, either IN
dividual or corporate, participate IN
criminal prosecutions the proceedings
tend TO lose that impartial quaIlty
which should characterize the ADMINS
tration of justice.
Did What Seemed Right.
"I, reviewing recent events in Col
orado." he concluded, while 1t IS
donbtless true that many of those who
had part in them would, IN the llght
of present knowledge, have acted dii-
ferentlv in many respects, / can only
saw for myself that at each step did
what at the time seemed to me rlght
and wise. ...
"As | see it, the vital questions now
are these: Are conditions as they
ought to be? If not, are sincere ana
effective efforts being brought lorth
TO make them better"
"As TO the future. we are bendlng
every energy toward the deyelopment
Of sound conditions. and in that Ell ort
we seek the cooperation OF all those
interested in establishing relations OF
mutual confidence and advantage be-
tween the various elements associated
in the industrial life of the state OF
Colorado"
Mr.. Rockefeller stated that he in
! tended to visit Colorado and see eondl-
lions for himself, but that he had been
postponing the trip until he could see
| his way clear to devoting three weeks
/ or more TO It.
DenounCes Secretary Wilson.
Among the letters submitted by Mr..
Rockefeller was one written to him by
i L. NJ Bowers, on October 8. 1913. m
/ which the fuel company official said:
"With the exception OF few small
{ operators who have no funds 10 hgnt
/ with and who expect TO reap rich
I harvest from high politics, all of the
coal GENERATORS are unit and under no
conditions whatever will they submit
IN The dictation of the United Nine
/ Workers Of America. Unfortunately,
Secretary Of Labor Wilson. appointed
by the President, was secretary and one
/ Of the big men Of the above named
union and all Of his associates In ON
cial positions IN his department have
! heen officers or were employees or the
union. which. 10 my mind, bespeaks a
/ rough road ahead for our industrial
enterprises during the present admin
/ istration.'
On October II, 1918, Mr.. Bowers
| wrote: u..
"Wbcr this government places m the
! Cabinet mon like Commissioner or
Labor Wilson. who was for many years
( secretary Of the United Mine workers
| NJ America. which has been one
( Of the unions that permitted more
! disorder and bloodshed than any
/ class Of labor organization IN inns
! country. We are not skating upon thin
/ ice. but we are on top Of q volcano.
( On December g. 1918. Mr.. Rockefeller
wrote TO Mr.. Bowers;
| you are fighting a good fight, which
/ is not only in the interests or your
/ own company. but of the other com
panies Of Colorado and the business.
/ interests of the entire country ana OF
! the laboring classes quite as much. J
/ feel hopeful that the worst Us over
and that the situation Will improve
daily"
Rockefeller Suggests Y. VI. {. A.
| In April. l9l4. Mr.. Rockefeller wrote
| TO Mr. Bowers as follows:
1T may be that II would be worth
while 70 consider the establishment, On
connection with the steel mills n not
! in the mining camps, Of Young
| Mems Christian Association, under the
management Of the industrial depart
| meut"
Mr. Bowers wrote in reply 10 this:
There is. no doubt that d small Y.
NJ. {. A. building. including gymnasium.
| reading room. etc would be good