Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-23
DENIES ASSERTIONS
OF MINE STRIKERS
Rockefeller Answers Charges as
Summed Up by Federal Rela-
tons Commissions.
AGAIN QUESTIONED BY WAL
Oral Examination of Witness Is
Concluded, and He Leaves
for New York.
AGAIN QUESTIONED BY WAL SH
Special to The Tlmes-Dispatch.l ]

sioher Neinstock, OF the Industrial Re-
lations Commission to-day. John ID.
Rockefeller. .Jr.. entered a general de-
NAL 10 the assertions Of the Colorado
mine strikers as presented to him by
the commissioner Mr. Weinstock said
that what he had becn able I'm brief,
I" get out OF il all is that the strikers
and their sympathizers make these
three specific charges:
]. That at no time after the strike
could they get hearing at the hands
of the operators.
?. That the civil and judicial ma
chinery for obtaining such justice as
the law affords was in the hands Of the
operators, and not available to the
strikers.
3. That the operators. through their
agents. were the first TO resort to vio-
lence. and that all the violence which
followed would be given on the part of
the strikers and not offensive
Mr. Rockefeller said SO far as he
knew representatives of the union have
not met with the operators.
The striking miners he added. "as
understand It, were present at the
meeting called BY Governor Ammons
November 26. where they met three of
the operators with the Governor, and
discussed the situation. The Colorado
Iron and Fuel Company have always
been ready TO meet with their men or
with the representatives whom they
may elect. men working in the mines"
COVERED BY SUGGESTION
MADE BY GOVERNOR
Mr.. Rockefeller said that all points
OF difference. other than the recogni-
ton of the union, were covered by a
suggestion by the Governor TO which
the operators agreed, but which the
representatives OF the miners did not
accept.
Concerning the second charge Mr
Rock efeller said he was not in posi-
tion TO state. He understood that tes-
timony had been offered on both sides
Il think" he continued "this fact.
without regard to party lines is that
the election which took place In Colo
RADIO in the fall, turning out as it did,
would indicate that the ballot is still
powerful in that State TO represent the
VIII OF the people II meant the cleo
tion of a Governor who as am in
formed. the people of the State by
large majority believed would maintain
the Law, and the re- election OF an At
torney-General who hac proved salts
Colorado in his previous term OF office
Il regard now that these are matters
Of the past To reopen question of
where the blame may he said to proper
" rest in regard to the beginning Of
the struggle is unfortunate, bu, the in
formation that | have is that the be-
ginning of violence was on the part OF
the strikers, when one of the camp
marshals was deliberately shot by
Grceks.when ne undertook TO stop them
from tearing down bridge. That, as
understand II, was the first act of vio-
lence during the strikc.".
ROCKEFELLER DECLINES
TO MAKE ADMISSION
Chairman Walsh cndeavored at some
length TO obtain an admission from Mr..
Rockefeller that Ivy L. Lee his pub
licity agent, had written the statements
concerning the strike that had been
issued under the name of Mr.. Rookie
fcller. MIR. Rockefeller declined to
make that admission. saying that he
assumed full responsibility for every
thing that had ever been published as
coming from him. Mr.. Walsh replied
that with that answer he would assume
that Mr.. Lee wrote them.
These matters relate so closely to
matters now in court that I must de-
cline to discuss them" said Mr.. Rookie
feller.
Il sec Mr.. Lee smiling. and I thought
you might say he wrote them" said
Chairman Walsh
You. too, are smiling retorted Mr..
Rockefeller but must decline to dis
cuss the matter"
When asked If he was now engaged
in a warfare of any kind for an open
shop in 1916" Mr.. Rockefeller insisted
that he was engaged in no warfare Of
any sort.
The chairman attempted to lead the
witness into an admission that he was
engaged in n national educational cam
paign, but Mr.. Rockefeller replied that
no such campaign had ever been un-
dertaken.
WITNESS EXPLAINS HIS
IDEA OF OPEN SHOP
Mr.. Rockefeller denied any knowl-
edge Of the employment of spies in the
mines Of the company. Asked what his
notion of an open shop" was, Mr..
Rock efcller replied:
My idea Of an open shop is where
each man is employed on the basis of
his own fitness The question whether
man has been n union man does not
enter so long as he is efficient 4 man
has right to Join any union he sees
fit"
would you invade that right and
discharge him?" asked the chairman.
"If / were in personal charge I would
not" said Mr.. Rockefeller.
Mr.. Walsh said there was some other
questions OF a formal nature he would
like to ask. but they would be referred
to the bureau Of research, which would
communicate with him in writing.
81 would prefer to stay here and
complete my testimony In public" re-
piled Mr.. Rockefeller. Ever since
this investigation has heen going on
these things have been before the pub
lie, and there should be time when
this investigation will finally end.
would prefer to remain on the stand
Continued on Tenth Page.)