Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-26

L
| vested IN various officers, and the OIL
GERS have to be given powers common
| surate with their responsibilities. These
responsibilities are in general divided in
such way that the directors attend
principally to the financial affairs Of the
| corporation, leaving the actual conduct
OF operations to the officers
Labor conditions. SO far as they are
| within the control of a corporation, are
matters for which the officers of the cor
poration are primarily responsible and
with which they, by reason of their ex-
perience and their frst-hand acquaint
ance with the facts, are best qualified to
deal
Labor policies are initiated and de-
termined by the officers. whose efficiency
is largely measured by the harmony and
good will which they are able to main
| tain between the company and its en-
ployes 1t is not customary to submit
labor policies to q board Of directors for
acton. Conference regarding them is
often had with the directors or execu-
tive committee at the instance Of the
officers and suggestions are made to the
I latter by both these bodies. A business
| to be successful must not only provide
to labor remunerative employment un-
| der proper working conditions. but it
| must also render useful service to the
community and earn a fair return on
the money invested. The adoption OF
any policy toward labor, however fav-
orable it may seem, which results in the
bankruptcy Of the corporation and the
discontin,1ance OF its work is as injuri-
III
ployment, as 1t is to the public which
| loses the services of the enterprise. and
to the stockholders whose capital is
| impaired.
| Anyone who has followed the con-
troversy which has arisen out of the
Colorado situation will have observed
that no effort has been spared to make it
appear that I have attempted to exer-
else kind of absolutism over the coal
industry in Colorado and particularly
| that l have sought to dictate a policy
| of non recognition Of unions. An atti-
tude toward industry and toward labor
such as is here implied is so abhorrent
to me personally and so contrary to the
spirit of my whole purpose and training
| that cannot allow these allegations to
pass unnoticed. While it has been said
| that / have exercised an absolute au-
| thority in debating to the management
| of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
it has also been said that l have been
too Indifferent and that as a director
I should have exercised more authority.
Clearly, both cannot be true.
! What are the facts?"
First, with reference to nv attitude
vi Lob
be just as proper and advantageous for
labor TO associate itself into organized
groups for the advancement Of its legit-
innate interests, as for capital to com
bine for the same object. Such associa-
tons Of labor manifest themselves in
promoting collective bargaining. in an
effort to secure better working and liv-
ing conditions. in providing machinery
whereby grievances may easily and
without prejudice to the individual be
! taken up with the management. Some
times they provide benefit features
sometimes they seek to increase wages,
but whatever their specific purpose. so
long as II is to promote the well-beine
Of the employees, having always due re-
gard for the just interests of the employ
er and the public, leaving every worker
free to associate himself with such
groups or to work independently, as he
may choose favor them most heartily
Combinations of capital are sometimes
conducted in an unworthy manner. con-
trary TO law and in disregard Of the in
terest both of labor and the public.
Such combinations cannot be TOO strong
ly condemned nor too vigorously deal,
| 11i$1
kind are the exception. such publicity
is generally given to their unsocial acts
that all combinations Of capital, how
ever rightly managed or broadly beno-
flcent, are thereby brought under sus-
picion. Likewise, it sometimes happens
that combinations of labor are conducted
without just regard for the rights Of the
employer or the public, and methods and
practices adopted which, because un-
| worthy or unlawful, are deserving of
public censure. Such organizations of
labor bring discredit and suspicion upon
| other organizations which are legitimate
and useful, just as is the case with i'm
proper combinations of capital. and they
should be similarly dealt with. / should
be the last, however, to allow the oc-
CasionA failure in the working Of the
principle of the organization of labor
to prejudice me against the principle it.
self, for in that principle I strongly be-
| lieve.
AS respects the question Of the re-
cognition or non-recognition of labor
unions in Colorado, my attitude has
been in conformity with the views l
havo expressed relative to the re-
| sponsibilites Of stockholders, directors
and managers. The hiring and dis
| charging Of men and the framing of
agreements as respects the same are
functions which l have regarded as
| rightfully belonging to the manage
ment and not to the stockholders or
directors. The Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company has been managed on this
principle. The decision of the officers
with respect to the recognition of the
union was reached without any con-
sultation or communication with me,
and I had no knowledge Of their de-
| cision until after the strike had been
declared"
The correspondence between him
| self and the officers Of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company during the
strike which has already been made
public. showed, Mr.. Rockefeller said
| that he had not hesitated to make
| SUGGESTIONS for more adeouafo "a