Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-22
Other Members of Commission
Do Not Attempt to Conceal
Their Opinion That Exam
lnatiOn Is Improper,
SPIRITED ANSWERS ARE
GIVEN BY THE WITNESS
Millionaire Demands That He
Be Accorded Same Rights
While on Stand That Are
Extended to Others,
t.r nosnlas JOURNAL srrer.. LEASED WINS

washington, May 2l.-frequent
sharp clashes between John d. Rock
efeller, Jr, and Chairman Walsh
marked today's sessions of the indus
trial relations commission with Mr..
Rockefeller again on the stand, tes-
tifying about conditions in the Colora-
do coal fields. Although two mem
bers of the commission had protested
against what they regarded as the
hostile attitude of the chairman yes
terday, Mr.. Walsh throughout the
day put the witness through a grilling
examination, time after time arousing
him to expressions of resentment
Mr.. Rockefeller demanded that he
be accorded rights given other wit
nosses. and firmly insisted that
Chairman Walsh was seeking to in
ject into his questions implications
against the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company and its officers. Some
questions he declined to answer as
improper, and others he characterized
as useless.
Walsh Sole Questloner.
Chairman Walsh was the sole exam
iner today. other members taking no
part in the Questioning. Mr. Rookie
feller will be on the stand again to-
morrow. Before the session began,
the commission held an executive ses-
sion at the instance of Commissioners
WeinstOck and Mrs j. Borden Harri-
man, who frankly informed Chairman
Walsh that they believed the attitude
he assumed yesterday toward Mr..
Rockefeller had the appearance of
hostility. Mr. Walsh said he had no
Intention OF displaying hostility, but
that he was unusually interested in
affairs connected with the Colorado
strike and naturally could not restrain
a tendency to conduct the examina
tion vigorously. He informed his coll
leagues. moreover, that he was de-
termined to conduct the examination
as he saw fit. Later in the open hear
ing the chairman emphatically told
Mr.. Rockefeller he was running the
examination and did not propose TO be
dictated to by the witness.
Mr. Rockefeller began today by
reading a prepared statement. which
related to Chairman Walsh's ques-
tioning on his view of the regularity
of the conviction of John Il. Law
son, a mine workers leader.
His statement follows:
RockefelIers Statement.
Since giving my testimony yester
day have read with care the ste
nographer's transcript of the ques-
tions asked by the chairman of the
commission in reference to the Law
son trial, and my view of certain hy-
pothetical cases and the course Il
would take. should the facts subse-
quently prove TO be as presented.
'As these questions all relate to a /
criminal appeal at present pendingi
before the courts of this country, [ !
feel that my position cannot be too
precisely stated, both as respects the |
questions already asked and ques- !
tions of similar nature which may |
be addressed and | therefore desire I
to give this commission my opinion
on these matters in the form Of a
written statement which will be un- /
equivocal and admit of no misun-
derstanding or misinterpretation.
"As already expressed, my opinion
liz that justice should be so admins f.
tered as to be above suspicion and If
in any material particular the trial
of Mr.. Lawson has been wanting in !
this respect, |, for one, should desire
to see the supreme court of Colorado,
to which the appeal has been taken, !
carefully consider every ground that
may be urged and grant new trial
should any material ground be sus-
tanned.
Resents Reflections.
Il have no more right than has any
other citizen in this country to at
tempt to interfere with or influence
the courts of justice, and auestionsl
which are so framed as to seek to put
me in the position of appearing TO
concede that there has been wlltul
tampering with the courts or Of stat
ing what l am prepared to do to m
tiuenee the future course of justice,
either as respects MIR. Lawson or any
other person, | cannot regard as
ether than improper questions ana q
direct reflection upon those who are
charged with the administration OF
justice To sinister reflections of TINS
kind | must decline TO be a party
even by influence.
Were | either directly or Indirect
ly to attempt to influence the JUDI
ciary of Colorado as respects the
present appeal in Mr. Lawson's trial,
| should be guilty of the very pro-
eedure against which witnesses be-
fore this commission have so strong
ly protested and which ! myself nave
no less strongly condemned, and
hope the chairman of the commits
sion will not expect from me replies
to any questions which imply that
believe others have been guilty OF
unlawful or improper acts in the ad-
ministration of justice, or that | en-
tertain a position superior to that OF
as. s.f i he 20 !