Evening star., 1915-01-25
DENIES. BLAME FOR
STRIKE IN COLORADO
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Says
He Never Attempted to Exer-
else AbsoIutism.
OFFICERS OF COMPANY
ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE
Makes Statement to Commission on
Industrial Relations Meet
ing in New York.

i
management of philanthropic founda
| tions and the causes of industrial un.
rest.
Mr.. Rockefellers testimony dealt
| largely with the labor situation in the
Colorado mining section. Reading from
a prepared statement, he defined his
| attitude toward labor unions and told
| why he had declined to take a more
| active part in settling the recent strike
OF employees of the Colorado Fuel and
\ Iron Company. in which he is a stock.
holder, and other companies affected
He denied that he had sought or even
wished to exercise a sort of absolutisn
over the coal industry in Colorado and
! declared he was most heartily In favor
OF labor unions SO long as they had due
regard for the interests Of the public.
| THE only coal property in Colorado
in which we are in any way interested
| is the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany," Mr.. Rockefeller said. 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 l
represent would have justified, and If
tolerated by the management of that
company would have been resented by
the other companies involved in the
dispute"
Duty of Stockholders.
VIEWS" said Mr.. Rockefeller, 'as to
what extent the stockholders and di-
rectors of a corporation are responsible
for the labor conditions which exist in
lit, and for the social conditions which
what manner such responsibilities are
assumed 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
lis practically limited to the election Of
directors. They have no power to elect
officers, to employ labor, to make con-
tracts or to intervene directly In the
management Of the business. A large
else considerable moral influence over
the directors and officers. and Is re-
sponsible for exercising that influence
properly.
The directors are responsible for the
general conduct of the business. they
determine the policies of the business.
responsibility OF OmcerS.
Labor conditions. so far as they are
within the control Of a corporation,
are matters for. which the officers of
the corporation are primarily RESPONSE
ble
Labor policies are initiated and de-
termined by the officers. A
business to be successful must not only
provide to labor remunerative employ
ment under proper working conditions,
but 1t must also render useful service
to the community and earn a fair re-
turn on the money invested.
ANY one who has followed the con-
troversy which has arisen out Of the
Colorado situation will have observed
1t appear that 1 have attempted to ex-
ercise a kind of absolutism over the
coal industry in Colorado and particu-
larly that I have sought to dictate a
policy Of non-recognition Of unions. An
attitude toward industry and toward
labor such as is here implied is so alb
horrent to me personally and SO con-
trary to the spirit Of my whole purpose
and training that I cannot allow these
allegations to pass unnoticed.
| What are the facts?
| First. with reference to my attitude
toward labor unions: 1 believe it to
be just as proper and advantageous
for labor to associate itself into or
1
of its legitimate interests as for cap
ital to combine for the same object
Sometimes they Gabor unions) provide
benefit features. sometimes they seek
to increase wages. but. whatever their
specific purpose. so long as it is to
promote the wellbeing of the employees
having always due regard for the just
interests of the employer and the pub.
lie. leaving every worker free to as.
|sociate himself with such groups OF
hn u
choose, I favor them most heartily.
Did Not Know of Pending Strike.
AS respects the question of the rec
lognition or non-recognition of labor
unions in Colorado, my attitude ha,
been in conformity with the views
have expressed relative to the respon.
sibilities of stockholders, directors ant
managers. The hiring and dischargine
of men and the framing of agreement.
as respects the same are function,
which I have regarded as rightfully
belonging to the management and no
to the stockholders or directors TIL,
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company ha,
been managed on this principle. TIL,
decision of the officers with respect t.
the recognition of the union wa.
reached without any consultation o.
communication with me. and had n,
knowledge OF their decision until afte
the strike had been declared"
The correspondence between himsel
and the officers of the Colorado Fue
and Iron Company during the strike
which has already been made public
showed. Mr.. Rockefeller said. that h
had not hesitated to make suggestion
for more adequate representation o
for employees In the determination o
! matters pertaining to their workin,
conditions; but that he had studiousl:
avoided anything which might affor,
! ground for the belief that he wa
seeking to dictate policy or ar
bitrarily control any situation"
'-The only coal property in Colorad
in which we are In any way Interest," e,
is the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany," he continued. "In addition t
; this company. there are many othe
coal mining companies in that state, Il
: none of which either we or the Colo
rado Fuel and Iron Company have an
: interest whatsoever, and large mum
ber of these companies were involved /
the strike. For me to have attempte
to dictate a policy or control the situa
tion would have meant an assumptio
. of authority far beyond what the In
. vestment which ! represent in tn
! Colorado Fuel and Iron Company Woul
!, have justified. Doubtless mia
! acoptinped oa sscoad R1Gel J