Evening star., 1915-05-24
COLORADO TROUBLE
STILL UNDERP PROBE
Chairman of Industrial Com
mission Pursues Inquiry
Into Coal Field Conditions.
L. M. BOWERS is CALLED
AS THE FIRST WITNESS
Former Official of Fuel and Iron
Company Questioned Regarding His
Letters to Mr.. Rockefeller.


Letters to Mr.. Rockefeller.
The federal Industrial relations COM
mission resumed today it's investiga-
tion into conditions in the Colorado
coal fields. L. NJ. Bowers. former vice
president of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company and now a member OF
the personal stan Of John D. Rookie
feller. jr.. was the first witness to tes-
tify today. The commission had con-
cluded Saturday Its examination of Mr..
Rockefeller. Other members of Mr..
Rockefeller's personal staf are here
waiting to take the witness stand.
Mr.. Bowers testified he was not now
connected with the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company. and had nothing to do
with the conduct of that strike in any
way. directly or indirectly. Although
he was treasurer of the company and
chairman of the executive board he
knew nothing of expenditures for
arms. ammunition or mine guards.
Letters Read by Chairman Walsh.
Chairman Walsh quoted a letter from
Bowers to Rockefeller announcing a
determination to continue the fight
against the strikers until our bones
are bleached white as chalk in these
Rocky mountains" Bowers said he
considered the strike contest for ''in-
dividual industrial independence"
Walsh read another letter to Mr..
Rockefeller praising the latter's testi-
mony before the House committee in
vestigating the Colorado situation.
Il believe the position you so rugged
ly maintained will do more for the
cause Of the millions of laboring men
than all the efforts Of social reformers
in as many years." he wrote.
Tt will set thousands Of faltering
employers to thinking and inspire con-
fdence and spur them to activity in
opposing the schemes Of political. So
cial and religious demagogues. who are
in the clutches Of the labor union lead
ers, whose aim Is to shut the open
shops. Now for an aggressive warfare
to 1916 and beyond for the open shop.
Expresses "Boundless Delight"
IT cannot put into words my satis-
faction, I will say boundless delight
with your magnificent and unshaken
stand for principle whatever the cost
may be- Now for an aggressive war
fare to 1915 and beyond for the open
"Were the political wire pullers you
mentioned here tho members of the
committee of representatives Of the
people. acting with the authority of
the House?" asked the chairman.
said Mr.. Bowers: "that was a letter be-
tween business friends. and was never
expected to be made public" He add
ed he believed the committee was
biased and was made up in a political
manner that was not fair to those
under investigation"
MI. Bowers Brings a Laugh.
Mr.. Walsh spoke of a letter in which
Mr.. Bowers wrote of giving ''taffy to
Gov. Ammons."
Did your mother ever spank you
and then give you q piece of candy or
a cooker returned the witness. The
commission and spectators Joined in
laughter as Mr.. Walsh answered:
She certainly did"
We'll, that is just what I meant"
Then your political policy as a repre-
sentative Of the Rockefeller interest" said
the chairman, ''is that when a public Of
fetal does not do what you want him to
what you think Is right you give him
piece Of candy"
That's right"
The whipping into line" Of Gov. Am
mons, Mr.. Bowers said. consisted Of
bringing every possible influence to get
him to bring out the militia to protect
life and property"
Sheriff "King Of the County"
Mr.. Bowers agreed with Chairman
Walsh that Sheriff JEFF Farr of Huer-
fano county was the king of the coun-
ty." He said he objected to Mr. Fairs
political and business tactics. but that
the coal company had been for years
connected with Mr.. Farr and his organ
ization.
The Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany." he said, was connected with
this condition. was a part of it,
The officers Of the company did
working with Mr.. Farr" Later
Mr.. Bowers said the company and Mr..
Farr had a saloon connection
They were both in the saloon busi-
ness. weren't they?" asked the chair
YES" said the witness.
Breaks Oh Connection.
Under cross-examination by Commits
sioner Weinstock Mr.. Bowers testified
that after he joined the company he
eliminated the connection with Mr..
Farr. He explained that in the early
days OF the company an officer of the
concern, now dead, organized a part
nershlp between the company and Mr..
mining camps. which were used as en-
ployment bureaus.
This pernicious and damnable sys-
.em." said Mr.. Bowers. was in force
pany. I fought 1t. The system is as
strong as Tammany Hall. They control
every man that is put up for office
They did at the last election"
Mr.. Bowers said he had fought for
state prohibition in Colorado az a
means for eliminating the system.