Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-02-05
FUND NO MENACE,
SAYS JOHN D., JR.
Possibility Of Foundations Dom
mating Country Suggested
IMPOSSIBLE lie THINKS
Young Millionaire Believes People
Would Never Permit interference
With Churches, Schools or Selves.

The possibility that the great phil
ant..ropic foundations, with their i'm
menae resources, might seek to DOM
mate tie churches, schools and peo'
pie OF the country ''as the German mil
itarist idea has done since 1870" was
suggested to John d. Rockefeller, Jr
at the investigation that is being con-
Quoted in New York into the activi
ties of the foundations by the federal
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 toun-
dations had no such idea. Their sole
purpose, he said, was to bring about
better conditions.
Referring 20 the Rockefeller foun-
dation, he declared there was no dan
ger one hundred years from now that
it's directors might not be men of the
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 presl-
dents of several universities with the
power of veto over the foundation. He
did not believe that within the terms
Of its charter the foundation could
participate in politics, "in the defense
of the trusts" or in anything other
than it's stated philanthropical pur'
poses.
Gould it circulate party plat
fcrm?" asked Chairman Walsh.
mo such thing has ever been
thought Of" tne witness replied. Ger
tainly no such thing could ever be at
temp ed
Under it's charter, might not your
foundation circu ate editorials, ciltl'
cisms OF the government or of the
churches? Might it not buy a chain
of stores. organize real estate COM
pany, or conduct propaganda IL favor
of trade unions or Workmen's COM
pensa .ion?" Mr.. Rockefeller thought
the foundation could not do such
things. lie had not considered the
questions, he said.
Mr.. Rockefeller was asked: what
do you think is the underlying cause
of industrial unrest?" "If | thought
| knew" replied the witness, 81 long
ago would have given utterance to my
ideas. I urged an investigation by
the foundation in order to get at the
true cause" Mr.. Rockefeller said that
in his opinion employer and employe
"do not come face to face often
enough"
MIR. Rockefeller was then excused
He had been on the witness stand for
the better part of three days.
As Mr.. Rockefeller left the room,
the sergcaat-at-arms, Egan, handed
him a check for Sc, his fee as a wit
ness fer three days at 50 day. Mr..
Rockefeller folded the check up slow.
ly, put it in his pocket and signed a
voucher for the amount.
Mrs. Belle Zilberman, who was ar
restcd 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
sh soting of miners at Ludlow, Colo,
greeted Mr.. Rockefeller when he
reached the city hall, where the hear
ings are being held. Tuesday she said
she ".o-.ave Mr.. Rockefeller" for
hayinz h-r arrested. Wednesday she
brought him "a message of good will
Mr.. Rockefeller shook hands and chat
ted with her several minutes.