West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-01-28
ADMITS KNOWING
LITTLE OF LABOR
Rockefeller, Jr., However, Be.
lievoS IN UliOnS
QUESTIONED kB1UT COLORADO

Hearing Says II information Con
oernins Alleged Abuses In Goa
FIELDS Were Supplied Him ~,
Would See That Conditions Ar,
Changed.
New York. Jan. 26.--John ID. Rookie
Teller, Jr.. active head of the inter
ests acquired or built up by his father
occupied the witness stand for five
hours at the inquiry being conducted
here by the United States commission
on industrial relations into the great
phiianthrop'c foundations and the
cause OF Industrial unrest.
"a. Rookie eller freely admitted that
ne had no knowledge concerning labor
questions, but declared he was in
favor OF labor organizing and taking
action. provided it kept within tn,
law.
IL was seldom that he answered
Yes" or mo" Almost without excep
ton he gave much more informatio,
than was asked for. however remot,
such information might be from tn,
actual point of tho question. He was
always in command OF himself and
suave and unruffied.
One OF the points made in his state.
ment and TO which In his testimon..
Mr. Rockefeller frequently reyerto,'
was that his father would have saved
money II h" had put IL In n savings
bank ara q never had anything To
do with the Colorado Fuel and Iror
COmnDnN oil
earnings OF the company were being
devoted TO the Improvement OF IN
property, raising wages and alleviat
ing the conditions OF tho workirgmcu
Another idea TO which he CONSTANT.
ccme back was that in the conduct a.
large enterprises resnon sibility mus
be divided and delegated and the
having once selected ~ executive OF
hcer in whom they believe tho dlroc
tors cannot be expected to discNa-oe
him the moment some irresponsible
person crit'c'ses him.
He said he believed that labo
should havc n voice IN dete-mini-t
the conditions OF ennlovment. but h
declared en nhaticaI'y that neither II.
nor any other busiress mnn would per
NIT workmen TO dictate how that bust
ness was TO be ruo
As for th" conditions which are said
TO obtain IN the mirirg cp-,-s OF Colo
RADIO. Mr.. Rockefeller tolS the commits
sion that II n descrintion OF the nj
legged abuses were supplicd TO him n
would take personal chr~ge Of tho
matter ard would see to II that they
were remndied.
Mr.. Pockofe'ler answered a sn-jo
OF questions as To the man~e~ IN wl,i~'
his father decides upNn mok'rr o., f.,
vestment by saving that he co~t~nIio6
those investments. but leFt the detail
OF investigations TO mon in the office
He said that the executive oflcers
in Colorado were primarily resnonsi
BILE for the labor policy. Tho scoop.
given 10 them. he spid. to r9i,tni-
proper labor conditions was the sam
ns ts usually given 10 men I'm the
position.
"Do you believe that labor unioue
should be main'aircd democratic
allv?" asked Mr. Walsh.
81 believe fully IN democracy and 4,
freedom" ropliod the witness. "where
that freedom doesn't infringe upon tho
rights OF others"
Mr. Rockefeller answered rex
MANY Questions respecting labo
unions by saying that he would not OK
press an opinion because he had nevo,
studied the matters involved. AS foi
his resnousibIlitv as = director I.
know about these matters ne eaid tra.
he felt II. but had neither the tim,
nor the ability to study them. whore
fore that task had been delegated 10
the trained men OF the Rockefeller
foundation.
DO you believe the workers arc
entitled 10 a voice in determining
labor cond'tions?"
81 believe that labor should have
every accesc 20 those who rs directors
or executives have the manarement
Of the bur'~ess But I do not thini,
that the owner OF property should
be expected to turn over the manage
ment Of II - anyone who wants 10 a~
sumo that r3sponsibi'lty. 7 think or
Panlzation - necessary and that TN
prosDerlty of the country is being best
preserved thereby"
He admitted In reply to n question
that TO work seven DAYS n week for
any length OF time was a hardship.
He could not say. however. what pro.
portion OF year he would consider
II sufficient 20 make seven days n
week p herd hip 20 labor He had
worked seven days a week himself foi
a considerable period OF time.
;)ry Russia Shows Gain In ssvinos.
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