The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-28
Legislators Have Power to Curb Great
Foundations, Is Rockefeller Assertion

I or newspapers. He did not believe It
| could buy chain Of stores, promote GER
| tain industries assail trade unions or
finance institutions on condition that they
oppose labor unions. On the concrete
question as to whether or not the foun-
dalton might circulate the plan proposed
| by William Lyon Mackenzie King to
| settle labor disputes. rather than the plan
proposed by Frank J. Hayes of the United
Mine Workers, Mr. Rockefeller said he
could not see why the foundation should
not have just MS much right to circu-
late its views as Mr.. Hayes had to cir
| culate his.
Where would you draw the line be-
| tween your opinions and views as the
dispenser of money through philanthropic
institutions and your opinions and views
as the director Of corporation organ
| lied for proit?'
The question, Mr. Chairman. is based
on the idea tina, man in one Industry
can have no other interests. believe
| there are men who have various Interest,"
| and that they can decide what Is the
fair and right thing 10 do In the cir
cumstances. If there are no such men
tlrn there ought to be no foundation"
you recognize, then, divided IN
teresti"
81 do"
suppose that at a meeting OF the
Foundation II should be decided that the
| Colorado Fuel and Iron Company ought
| to recognize tho union and permit union
dues to be checked out OF the wages
OF it's employees, how would you vote on
that proposition"
'I would vote according to my best
Judgment
And II on the same day there should
| be a meeting Of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company's directors how would you
vote then on this question:"
81 should feel free to vote as / thought
proper"
Mr.. Rockefeller said that tho total in
come Of the foundation last year was
! S5,l52.7 61.5i
! mir. Rockefeller" said Commissioner
Garretson, under the scheme now oper.
ating in Colorado by which your officials
meet TO discuss matters with Twenty-Five
representatives OF the men In each mining
district what protection against discrimi-
/ nation on the part OF some petty boss has
an Independent representative goty'
He has the protection of the very
large body OF workers he represents"
| Have you had any reason during the
last six months to change your opinions
as to the responsibility OF directors for
the condition of the laborer?'
81 hope sir. | am making progress"
! Growing In grace. as 1t were"'
] Yes. II YOU want 10 put IL that way
HAS any corporation organized for
| profit a moral right to exist unless Il
can provide for the decent support Of Its
| employees"
1T has not"
AGitators Make n Difference.
In answer to a question from Commits
sioner Ballard Mr.. Rockefeller said there
was a very great difference between ac-
I knowledging- the right OF workers to or
ganze unions and the right o agtators to
| come among workers for the purpose OF
stirring up discomfort
DO you think that the whole country Is
undergoing a change In regard to the
duties Of employers toward their en-
ployees?'
81 do think so"
And am right in assuming that you
are among those who stand ready TO ex-
tend a handY'
Yes"
Mr.. Rockefeller said he thought it would
be advisable for every large corporation
| to have one OF its directors devote his
attention entirely to conditions OF labor.
DIT William II. Allen, who recently left
the Bureau of Municipal Research after
! alleging that he felt restricted in his
work there because Of the Rockefeller tn
huences. went on the stand after MI
Rockefeller. He told Of his employment
IS the Industrial Relations CoraFf!aS!o-
and Of the foundations which h. has been
investigating. He will be called again.
Mr. Lee Tells of Error.
Ivy j.. Lee. former executive assistant
TO the president OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. more recently employed as publicity
agent by Mr. Rockefeller and now a mem
Der of the elder Rockefeler's personal
STAFF, was the Anal witness OF the day.
He said that when he was doing pub
LEFTY work on the Colorado situation un-
der the direction of Mr.. Welborn, presl-
dent OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany. he prepared bulletin In which pay
ments made by the miners 90 John r.
Lawson, Frank J. Hayes. John McIen-
non. Mother Jones and others who were
assisting in carrying on the strike we're
greatly exaggerated. He said Mr.. Wei
born, who provided him with the informa-
tion, had assumed responsibility for the
error and had sought to correct H.
Mr. Lee will return to the stand at
10 o'clock this morning, when the hearing
will go on.