New-York tribune., 1915-09-22
'ROCKEFELLER,JR.
OVERALLS CLAD.
DIGS OWN COAL
Oil Magnate Tells Miners
They Are Partners. and
Asks Aid.
WILL DO ALL
TO BE FRIENDS
Tired Out, Financier Spends a
Night with the Men in Their
Boarding House.
lRy TelesIaph U n. rrIl.une !

tRy telegraph n The Triiune
Valdez, Col. Sept. 81 John b. Rookie
fellcr. jr., dug coal in one Of his own
mines here for twenty minutes to-day.
Dressed in a suit Of new overalls,
with a miners hat and lamp and es-
corted by Archie Dennison. spokesman
for the miners, he accompanied the
men into the inner workings Of the
Frederick mine. He declined an invi-
tation to ride on a coal car He walked
FULLY mile to the heart of the work
ings. Watching the miners al work for
Il few minutes, he said;
81 would like 70 try that Will one
OF YOU boys loan me pick7"
His request was granted, and for
twenty minutes Mr.. Rockefeller worked
side by side with the humblest foreign
miner in his employ.
group Of miners in the section quit
work 70 watch the young millionaire.
They congratulated him when he fn-
ished, and he shook hands with each
man. Then he gave them a short talk.
Talks to Miners.
I'VE are all partners in a way he
said. Capital and labor are equally
dependent upon each other. We are
partners in a wav. me success OF each
attending upon the cooperation of the
other. We should ne friends in the
very nature Of things, and ! am GER
tainly anxious to do everything in my
power TO make us friends. When any
body comes along and tells you that
carital and labor can't get along to-
gether that man is your worst enemy.
There is no reason why you men can
not get along with the managers OF
nv company when ] am back in New
York"
Mr.. Rockefeller arrived after a ff-
tecn-mile automobile ride from Trini-
dad over the "Stone Wall" highway,
recently graded and improved b. the
cxnenditure Of considerable Rockefeller
Foundation money under the supervi-
sion Of W. l. Mackenzie King. During
mis- stay he visited several Of the
buildings and talked with the men.
particularlv with Archie Donnison, the
grievance representative Of the camn:
Dennis6n tald the Standard OIL
mapnate of several instances when,
through direct mediation with the Of
fccrs. he had secured relief from bur
dcnsomc rules which he declared had
been imposed by minor bosses with
out the knowledge of the heads OF the
corporation.
When Mr.. Rockefeller announced he
was going into the mine. +. II. Weitzel'
manager Of the company's fuel depart
ment. said;
well. you've got 20 dress for it,
So Weitzel negotiated with the com
panv store and paid 50 each Tor suits
Of blue overalls. jumpers and miners
cans. in which Rockefeller and W. l..
Mackenzie King arrayed themselves
Then guided by Wcitzel. J. ?. Thomas
division superintendent Of the com
many. and Dennison. the grievance man,
Rockefeller and King plodded into the
long "man-way" which led into the
.ide hil and pierced the thick vein OF
coal.
The roof was low. the path rough and
sometimes slippery with water. ne
Rockefeller back was bowed and the
Rockefeller brow time and again
thumped painfully on the oyerhanging
coal ceiling But, smiling and cnat-
ting checrfully. Mr.. RockeiGHer
trampcd briskly along into the dark
interior Of the mountain Reaching
the section where three men were AZ
work. Rockefeller shook hands with
each and Tony and Mike Buklnovich
tucked their heads and Grinned bash
ful answers TO the questions OF the
o,l king. Rockefeller asked particu-
]arlv regarding the wages and WORK
ing conditions of the men and re-
ceived a wide variety of answers.
Investigates Cruelty TO Mules.
lust before leaving the mine the
party passeG mule patiently waiting
for his car TO be loaded for another
mn down the long passageway TO me
trolley tracks.
MIR. Rockefeller began talking TO the
mule driver, then suddenly: LOOK
there" he demanded; why is that
mule chafed and bleeding from the
harness .! The embarrassed driver
stammercd an explanation. Mr. Rocke-
fcler walked around the animal, point
mo out several places where lts SKIN
had been worn by the harness. flnally
the combined eloquence OF all the mlne
. offl ClalC present SulUCtN " Pti
man OF millions that green mules al
wavs suffered abrasions from the mar
ncss until their skin became calloused.
Then. half satisfied, Mr.. Rockefeller
resumed his walk.
Mr.. Rockefeller went INTO the mine
snic and span and came out begrlmed
and dusty lie told the men ne was not
~ tho least afraid Of dirt. lie con-
timed his inspection of the workings
for more than two hours.
After arriving al the surface ne N!S-
ited about twenty families in the vi
lace Then he Lad lunch with ms
naTtv which included W. Mackenzie
| King. of the Rockefeller Foundatioh'
afteT which he left for Segqndo.
late in the afternoon Mr.. Rockefeller
reached the Primero camp. llreu ou',
~" Gnancier announced he would not
return 10 Trinidad. but would spehd
,be NIGHT with the men in the camp
Mr.. Rockefeller ate dinner IN the t
miners boarding house and spent tne
"sriv evening talking with the men WING W
baj lust come from the underground
workings.
Scar Over Eye Of Drowned Man