Evening star., 1915-05-22
AGAIN He ASSERTS
RIGHT TT0USEF FORCE
Mr.. Rockefeller Would Protect
Life and Property When
the State Fails.
GRILLING IS CONTINUED
AT COMMISSION INQUIRY
Chairman Walsh Proceeds With In.
vestigation With Only Four Of
His Associates Present.

WIN only 1Our members OF tno IN
dustrial relations commission present.
Chairman Walsh today resumed his
vigorous cross-examination of John D.
Rockefeller. jr., on his relation to the
industrial warfare in the coal fields OF
Colorado. Mrs ]. Borden Hartman.
who protested against the attitude OF
Walsh in his examination of Rookie
feller. was one of those absent.
Mr.. Rockefeller reiterated his opinion
that when the authorities failed to pro-
tect life and property, the private citi-
zen had the right to use force to pro-
tect himself. He argued that the use
OF force against an officer would be
Justified only in circumstances which
would assure finding Of innocence in
court of law. and, in spite of a long
wrangle with the chairman, steadfastly
refused to add to the statement
Chairman Reads Letter.
Mr.. Walsh read part Of Rockefeller's
letter to L. M. Bowers, saying he would
back the mine officials in everything
they did. and asked if 1t wasn't writ
ten after deportations had occurred.
Will you be kind enough to read all
of my letter." Rockefeller demanded.
Il can't do that at this time" said
Walsh. but any letter you desire to
read you may submit after l have con
cluded my examination"
Then 1 am unable to reply intelli-
gently to questions based on frag-
ments of letters"
Mr.. Walsh referred to the deporta-
ton of Mother Jones. which he char
acterized as violation of constitu-
tional rights.
Did you demonstrate with your Of
f1cers for con,loning and sympathizing
with this violation of constitutional
rights?" demanded Chairman Walsh.
Il had no reason to believe that those
officers condoned or sympathized with
violations of the Constitution" was the
reply.
Would Decide for Himself.
Mr.. Walsh asked IL Mr. Rockefeller
would see that If the officers were
guilty of condoning such violations
they were punished. Mr.. Rockefeller
said that in regulating the officers he
would take such steps as he himself
considered necessary, proper and ex-
pelient."
Mr.. Walsh again asked the witness II
he did not think Sheriff Farr's deputies.
paid by the Colorado Fuel and Iron
menace to the peace Of the community
and to American government"
Il cannot tell whether they were more
of a menace than failure to have the
deputies would have been." was Rookie
feller's answer.
Chairman Walsh let it be known that
the commission was considering recon-
mendations Of law on that point.
Some members Of the commission" "
he said, ARE directing their efforts
| xErff h 6,ytf fNvN r6 Nynt
ing recommendations for laws that
will give the state and the nation full
control of all agencies of force in the
country"
Tries to Prevent Accidents.
To whether he knew anything of the
extent or numbers of accidents in the
mines of the Colorado Fuel and Iror
Company, Rockefeller answered:
IT know that the officers of the com
pany are making every effort to re-
duce the risk of accident to the lowest
possible point" He added he thought
he could do a greater service by seeing
that competent officers were placed il
| charge Of the mines than by inter
| fering personally.
| To repeated questions Mr.. Rockefel-
ler replied that under all circumstances
he sought to take steps which were
right and wise"
l. What I am trying to find out is
whether you, with all the power you
! say you have over your interests, have
a system by which you do not assume
personal responsibility for any dis
agreeable things. but refer them to
Others" said Chairman Walsh.
Il have not any such system. and act
on every case which comes before me
as l think wise under the circum-
stances"