Denver labor bulletin., 1915-11-13

q
and the most powerful OF the mine op-
orators enunciated as the position from
which he would not recede. was refusal
to meet with the representatives of the
organized miners. That representative,
John ID. Rockefeller, Jr., stated his po-
sition in the form of his desire to pro-
tect the right of his emplopes to work
as they desired and for whomever they
desired. Mr. Rockefeller's idea for the
welfare OF his employees was the right
OF each mlu alone and unassociate,l
TO mainiain and protect his interest in
| dealing with a mining corporation high
| " organized, and whose responsible Of
fiecrs are scattered throughout the
United States.
'rTwiee during the year OF 1914. Mr.
Rockefeller gave public testimony of his
relations and his position in connection
| with the Colorado miners strike; once
before the congressional committee and
/ the second time before the Commission
| on industrial Relations In both these
hearings he steadfastly declared that his
relations with the Colorado Miners were
purely impersonal: that the Officers
there hal full charge of all policies and
operstirgs and merely reported to him
Finish a fe<tits. He affirmed that he
had implicit confidence in the men Sc
lected for these positions. and that in
these officers Were placed full RESPONSE
bility and authority in connection with
the operation of the mines.
After his hearing in New York be
| fore the Commission on Industrial Re
lations. the correspondence IN his Of
flee with the Colorado mining officials
was turned over to the commission This
correspondence convirsccd some of the
commissioners that Mr.. Rockefeller's re
iatious to the operation of the Colo
RADIO mines had not been impersonal.
but that he had been aware of every
move made. had participated in the de-
termination OF all OF the policies of the
mine operators. and had kept in touch
with all the. developments in the min
ing district. In the correspondence and
in the testimony given before the COM
mission, there was manifest an all pre-
sailiur air of fealty toward the chief.
Mr.. Rockefellcr's attitude was that
these men We're absolutely free and in
1
under the circumstances. but every
wberr il was evident that this freedom
existed only SO long as they were carry
ing out the purposes of the Industrial
chief
AT The Washington hearing. the Of
| ficials Of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company, and Others who had direct
and intimate knowledge of the situa-
tion in the mining regions of Colorado
gave heir testimony. The facts pro-
duced we're startling. The officials gave
testimony that allowed that the Colo
radn miners were living under eondi-
tion> hat denied them any genuine
| freedom and even the rights of Ameri-
can citizens. Perhaps no man in the
employ of Mr. Rockefeller shocked the
sensihiiitics of justice so much as did
Mackenzie King. when he frankly stat
ed that there was no force more no
tent for the establishment OF justice
in Colorado than the will and the con-
science OF young Mr.. Rockefeller. This
statement of confidential employe cut
through the fiction of imperscnal rela-
| tions which Mr.. Rockefeller has 80
testimony OF the publicity agent OF the
Rocketellcrs was equally alarming TO
those who comprehended the Importance
OF and control over international agcn-
cies in the community. 1t was evident
rs this publicity agent stated. that his
work was to get the people to believe
in the policies and purposes of the
Rockcfcllcrs, and his methods revealed
that he intended to secure this belief
regardless of the truths in the case or
the welfare of the people concerned.
"Thc testimony of Mr.. Rockefeller,
Jr was of battling nature. non-com-
initial. evasive, like the replies of
skilful lawyer who seeks to turn atten-
ton from the real issues through consid-
Grafton of technicalitics and insisting
upon nice distinctions in regard to triv-
ial aud unimportant details. Mr.. Rock
cfcller absolutely refused to recognize
the responsibility for personal relations