Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-05
PRESIDENT RETAINS
AMM0NS LETTERS
Refuses to Submit Them to
Chairman of Industrial
Commission.
HIS ACTION IS DECLARED
A REBUKE TO Mr.. WALSH
Said Not to Be Pleased With Ad-
vance Publicity in Rookie
Teller Matter.

President Wilson has refused to FUR
nish the industrial relations commits
sion with copies of correspondence
with former Gov. Ammons of Colorado
on the Colorado coal strike. His action
was explained at the White House to-
day by the statement that the Fresi-
dent did not care to take any part in
the controversy between Chairman
Walsh of the commission and John D.
Rockefeller, jr, over the suggestion
that an agent OF Mr.. Rockefeller had
written a letter to the President for
Gov. Ammons to sign.
President Wilson's refusal to give to
the commission copies of the CORE
spondence between himself and former
Gov. Ammons Is interpreted in official
and other quarters as direct rebuke
to Chairman Walsh and his methods.
Nothing Harmful in Letters.
1t is known beyond question that the
correspondence contained nothing that
would injure anybody. but the Presi-
dent is represented as by no means
satisfied with the methods employed on
the commission. and does not propose.
it is said, to lend his name and infiu-
ence to attempts to try anybody or any
cause in the newspapers In advance of
the bringing out of the facts.
The letters from Gov. Ammons, 1t Is
declared, would not in any way up
hold what are termed apparent efforts
of some members of the commission to
attempt to prove that the governor
stand and his ideas throughout were
really dictated by agents of Mr.. Rookie
Teller.
Opposes Newspaper Trials"
High officials of the administration
are of the opinion that If Mr.. Walsh
Rockefeller's course he ought to bring
the facts out through witnesses. and
not attempt to prosecute anybody by
suggestions and intimations copiously
used in the newspapers.
The President is not favorable to
trials of persons before the public
witout testimony. 1t is said, and is de-
denotes in the least. Prominent demo-
cratic politicians had believed, it is
said. that there was a field for good
work on the part of the Industrial
commission In the gathering of per-
tinent facts regarding the Colorado
strike and Industrial conditions gen
orally.
Impairment Of Usefulness.
In the light, however. of recent de-
velopments there is a strong feeling
close to the White House that the
commission, if guided by Mr.. Walsh's
plans and views, has lost its useful
ness and that it's conclusions will be of
little help.
Mr.. Walsh is said to he Independently
wealthy. in addition to being indepen-
IDENTIFY unconSerned in his statements
regarding Mr.. Rockefeller and others.
He is declared to have told friends and
others that he did not ask for his posi-
ton on the commission, and does not
care a fig about the job.
1t is not believed the President will
take any steps to remove Mr.. Walsh
and Mr. Walsh has not so far taken
steps to eliminate himself from the
commission.
Mr. Walsh today refused to make any
comment whatever upon the report
that the President had refused to send
the letters in question to the commits
sion or that there was any friction be-
tween the White House and himself.
II have nothing to say was his only
comment.