The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-06
ROCKEFELLER AND
CARNEGIE TESTIFY. !
Steel Man Jocular And Oil
King Grave Before
Commission.


NEW YORK, Feb. s.-John D. Rock
efeller. Sr., and Andrew Carnegie tes.
titled yesterday before the Federal
Commission Of Industrial Relations.
They defended the foundations which
they have endowed with their wealth,
and neither would say he believed that
the institutions constituted a menace
to the religious. political or educa.
tional liberty Of the people OF the
United States. A desire to promote
the welfare Of mankind. and that
alone. they said. prompted them to es-
tablish the foundations which bear
their names.
Widely different was the manner In
which these two men faced the com.
mission and the audience, which was
composed largely of representatives
of labor, socialists, Yndividualists and
members OF the Industrial Workers OF
the World. Mr. Carnegie went to the
witness stand from a seat In the au.
dience. He declined to sit,whilei read
ing answers to a list Of questions sub.
mitted by the commission or while he
was being interrogated. Mr.. Carnegie
was in jovial mood. The answers
he gave to questions caused the au.
dience and the commissioners to road
with laughter more than once. Mr..
Carnegie enjoyed that. When he left
the stand he said he had not spent
such a pleasant afternoon in many
years. -.
In his testimony Mr.. Carnegie re-
vealed that up to the close OF last
year his donations totalled $324,657.- :
399. His present business, he said,
was to do all the good he could In this
world. He sketched the growth OF his
steel business and said he never had
such good time in his lifeIr as when
he was talking to his employees.
when they call you Andy instead of
Andrew or Mr.. Carnegie. you know
the boys are your friends" said he.
John o.'s Coming Surprise.
MT. Rockefeller's appearance as a
witness was surprise. 1t was learned
after he left the stand that Sergeant
alarms Egan went esterday to Po-
cantico Hills, the Rockefeller country
estate. and gave hi'a the list Of ques-
tions that had been prepared for him.
He asked Mr.. Rockefeller whether he
would appear voluntarily as a wit
ness. Mr.. Rockefeller replied he
would be very glad to do so.
While Mr.. Carnegie was on the
stand, Mr.. Rockefeller's private Sec
retary presented to Chairman Walsh
a note containing answers to the ques-
tions to Mr.. Rockefeller, and said that
his employer was outside. and that II
the answers did not suffice he would
like to be put on the witness stand
Immediately. He was asked to wait
in room being used by the commits
sioners until MIR. Carnegie had con-
cluded.
Mr.. Rockefeller was assisted to the
witness stand by members Of his per.
sonal staff. Seating himself with
much difficulty, he leaned across a
little table in front of him and looked
at the audience. When ne started to
read his answers his voice was scarce
ly audible. After he had finished his
statement, he folded his hands and
looked inquiringly at the commits
sloners. Mr.. Rockefeller appeared to
have aged considerably since he last
gave testimony In public. He spoke
very slowly and calmly.
He declared that his sole motive
was to devote a portion OF his fortune
to the services Of his fellow men. He
said he regarded the right to; rescind
the charters OF the Foundations as SUI.
ficient guarantee against abuse Of the
funds He told about his meeting
with ]. F. Welborn. president OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. and
". L. Mackenzie King at q time when
there was labor trouble in Colorado.
He answered all the questions that
had been asked him.