Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-26
Aged Strike Leader Invited
to Visit John D. Rock
efeller, Jr.
TO GIVE STRIKERS
SIDE OF TROUBLE
Rockefeller Again Resumes Witness
Stand Before Federal Commission on
Industrial Rel
ative to Incidents Incident to Colo
RADIO Coal Strike-some Features
New to Witness.

New York, Jan. 26.-John ID. Rock
efeller, Jr, today invited Mother"
Jones, the aged strike leader in the
Colorado coal fields. to visit him and
place before him all information re-
garding the strike situation there. The
invitation was accepted.
The invitation was extended by Mr..
Rockefeller as he entered the room in
the city hall where the federal COM
mission on Industrial relations is con-
Quoting its inquiry into phllanthropic
foundations and the cause Of labor un
rest. Mr.. Rockefeller resumed the
witness stand today. AS he entered he
saw Mother Jones. He stepped to
her side and shook hands.
Il wish you would come to see me
and give me any information you have
on the Colorado situation" he said.
Mother Jones was visibly sur
prised.
That's very nice of YOU" she said.
I have always said that you could
know but little of the workers Of Col
orado and you should hear something
else besides what these hirelings tell
YOU"
Would Not Curb Minister.
Chairman Walsh then read a letter
written by Mr.. Wellborn, president Of
the company, to Starr j. Murphy, OF
the personal staff of John d. Rock
efeller, Sr. In the letter Mr.. Welborn
said that clergyman at Sunset had
made some remarks detrimental to the
company and it had been suggested
the clergyman be removed.
"Altho the clergyman had made in
discreet remarks Mr.. Wellborn wrote
that he hesitated to remove him.
AS a citizen, Mr.. Rockefeller said,
he believed all clergymen should be
free to say what they choose. 1t was
brought out that the minister had
been severe in his utterances.
Did you know that jefferson Farr
is sheriff and that for fifteen years
your company has used it's influence to
elect him?' asked MIR. Walsh Did
you know that just before the strike
he swore in 300 men as deputies and
was told that the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company would furnish them
with arms and pay them?'
Mr.. Rockefeller said he knew moth
ing about that.
Any Means to Protect Property.
"As citizen l say that anything
which interferes with the operation of
la democratic form of government
should not be tolerated. Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter added. Il do know that If my
property was endangered l would take
any means to protect it,"
Mr.. Rockefeller said he had never
heard that detectives were employed
by the company to spy on the men
Suppose you found that the execu-
tives of the company had taken away
the rights of the men?" he was asked.
Il would have to hear all sides" he
replied IF the directors determined
that the executive members We're gull
ty they would have to submit to what
ever punishment the board determined
on"
"open Shop" Policy Blamed.
Mr.. Walsh read Il letter signed by
Mackenzie King. In which there was
statement to the effect that labor was
going to be plentiful after the war and
that consequently the question of
recognition of the unions would be
minimized. Mr.. Rockefeller agreed that
one of the principal troubles in Color
ado was the nom recognition Of the
union.
The witness said he did not know of
the existence of any case where the
officers of the company had repeatedly
broken the laws of the state" He said
that IL 1t were true some officer had
known Of the fact and he had also
broken the law.
Mr.. Walsh read from the witnesses
testimony before "a congressional COM
mittee, a passage in which he said the
worker should be free to do as he
pleased.
That statement has been taken as
a declaration against union labor the
witness said THAT Is n mistake. I
have always been in favor of organized
In