New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-12
STOP DIVIDENDS
TO HELP LABOR,
SAYS JOHN d. vJR.
Workers Must Be Content
and Comfortable, He
Warns Capital.
iBy rclegraph 10 The Tribune ]

Chicago, Oct. 11.-Unheralded, John
d. Rockefeller, jr., slipped into Chicago
to-day and spent several hours here.
Mr.. Rockefeller sought TO elude notice,
but when found he was not averse to
talking Of his latest ideas with regard
to the relations of capital and labor.
The mcst significant statement he
made in this connection was that il
is primarily essential that labor live
and live comfortably and contentedly.
IT, in order 10 assure this end, II be-
comes necessary for capital, tempor-
arily, at least, to suspend dividends,
then, according to Mr.. Rockefeller, div
idends should be suspended. Mr..
Rockefeller's own words were:
'1n order to live, the wage Garner
must sell his labor from day to day.
Unless he can DO this, the earnings
from that days labor are. gone for
ever. Capital can defer its returns
Temporarily in the expectation of tut
urc profits, but labor cannot. II. there
fore. fair wages and reasonable living
conditions cannot otherwise be pro-
yided. dividends must be deferred or
the industry abandoned
Mr.. Rockefeller further expressed
the conviction that neither labor nor
capital could prosper permanently un-
less the rights of both were conserved,
and added that as q result of his visit
TO Colorado the controversy between
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
and its employees would soon be ad-
iustcd upon a permanently satisfactory
basis.
Further than this he would not talk,
except 10 say that his views regarding
the relations of capital and labor, and
especially regarding conditions existing
between the concerns in which he is
financially interested and Their en-
ployes, were thoroughly embodied in
his speech of October 2, delivered at a
Joint meeting of officers and employees
of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany, at Pueblo. Mr.. Rockefeller re-
fused TO talk on politics or national
affairs. He averred that he did not
know whether members of his family
had subscribed to the Anglo-French
loan or not.
During his stay Mr.. Rockefeller paid
short visit TO the University OF Chi
cago. and in the institution which owes
its existence 10 his fathers munificence
he was not recognized by students or
authorities until he found his way to
the Office Of the president, Harry Pratt
Judson.
With President Judson Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter passed almost an hour, and II was
promptly rumored as a result that John
d. Rockefeller, sr.. probably would pro-
vide funds for the erection OF 81 ,5OO.-
600 chapel for the university. Just as
he was leaving President Judson's office
the report of his presence spread about
the campus. and a number OF students
gathered. He talked informally with
them for a few minutes.
Denounces Drink Evil
Mr.. Rockefeller lauded the "closed
Sunday" movement in Chicago. Al
! though he did not express himself as
favoring prohibition, he spoke earn
estly Of the evils Of drink and of the
advantages of strict law enforcement.
/ In this connection he said:
"A dry city is good thing, but when
a great city like Chicago determines 20
( 90 dry. even one day week. II is a
I great thing. Other cities VIII naturally
/ fellow where Chicago leads, will adopt
/ ,be same rules. IL viii mean less
noverty, less crime, less misery, and
/ Chicago will be held up forever as one
large city where the law is obeyed
personally, have never used
liouor in any form. What others 90
4 is not my personal matter, put wneh
the law is violated IT is every one
personal matter. ho,or.ss
"Water and coffee are my peyetsres. p
One of the greatest heritages iei' ' nv
- obs,inence. nv father ana my
,.andfather and, ! suppose. Tor seVerai
sshstsiners. My advice TO all would De
aossh' ahmn in,oxicants and leave 20 their
sS;idren a heritage oSabstinenee., on
Mr.. Rockefeller left Chicago at l|'''