The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
ROCKEFELLER SAYS HE IS IN FAVOR OF
 ORGANIZED LABOR
(Continued from Page One)

to tell man he could or could not
 drink
 The witness knew the Colorado Fuel and
 Iron company had had a sociological de-
 partment for 10 years. He was not able
 to state any of it's activities. Rockefeller will resume the stand to-
 morrow.
 "The commission has asked my views"
 said MT. Rockefeller, "as to what extent the stockholders and directors of a cor
 poraton are responsible for the labor con
 ditions which exist in it, and for the social conditions produced; how generally and in
 what manner such responsibilities are as- sumed by stockholders and directors, and in actual practice, how and upon what general basis the labor policies of large corporations are determined. "The responsibilities of stockholders is practically limited to election of direc- tors. They have no power to elect of- l ficers, to employ labor to make con- tracts, or to intervene directly in the management of the business "The directors are responsible for the 1 manner of general conducting of business. They must determine the policies of the business.
 Labor conditions so far as they are
 
 matters for which the officers of the cor poration are primarily responsible. Labor policies are initiated and de- termined by the officers.
 "A business now to be successful must not only employ labor under proper con- ditions. but 1t must be assured a fair return on the money invested. Colorado Problem Any one who has followed the Colorado controversy will have observed that no effort has been spared to make it appear that have attempted to exercise kind of absolutism over the coal industry in Colorado, and particularly that l have
 sought to dictate a policy of nonrecogni- tion of unions. An attitude toward indus try and toward labor such as is here inn piled is so abhorrent to me personally and so contrary to the spirit of my whole purpose and training that I cannot allow these allegations to pass unnoticed. What are the facts? First with refer cree to my attitude toward labor unions: I believe 1t to be just as proper and ad- vantageous for labor to associate itself into organized groups for the advance
 ment of it's legitimate interests as for capital to combine for the same objec- tive.
 ''As respects the question of recogni- tion or nonrecognition of labor unions in Colorado my attitude has been in con- formity with the views I have expressed relative to the responsibilities of stock holders, directors and managers. The hiring and discharging of men and the framing of agreements as respects the same are functions which I have regarded as rightfully belonging to the manage ment and not to the stockholders, or di- rectors. The Colorado Fuel and Iron | company has managed on this principle. | The decision of the officers with respect
 to the recognition of the union was reached without any consultation of communica- l ton with me and I had no knowledge of | their decision until after the strike had | been declared.
 | Mistakes Made For me to have attempted to dictate
 a policy or control the situation would have meant an assumption of authority | far beyond what the investment which I represent in the Colorado Fuel and Iron company would have justified Doubtless mistakes have been made and | conditions are still imperfect. I have | no desire to defend any conditions that are justly subject to criticism; I only | ask that the responsibility for them be apportioned fairly. The problem now is for all concerned to develop incrcas- ing good will and to improve conditions as far may be possible. To that end my thoughts and activities have fos ssometime determinedly been devoted.
 AS to the strike itself. it's many dis
 tressing features have given me the