The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-21
Calls For More Moder-
ate Treatment of Wit
nesses by the Federal
Commission
ROCKEFELLER is
AGAIN ON RACK
His Examination Will Be Conducted
With Due Consideration and the
Truth viii Be Arrived At, Says
Chairman Walsh

John D.. Rockefeller, Jr., resumed hi:
testimony to-day before the Industrial
Relations Commission. all the commits
soners met in executive session tt
consider the Ground robin - sent last
night to Chairman Walsh, calling fol
more moderate treatment of witnesses
Some of the commissioners did not con
eeal that they thought the chairman :
questioning of Mr.. Rockefeller yester
day should have been modified.
After the executive meeting the
other commissioners did not make pub
lie their letter to Chairman Walsh
which it was understood they would
do should their suggestion go unhead-
ed. Chairman Walsh said he did not
know what had happened in the ex-
ecutive session.
Rockefeller Reads Statement
1.-The examination of Mr.. Rookie
fcllcr, 'said he, ''has and will be con.
dueted with due consideration and the
truth will be arrived at.
Mr.. Rockefeller began to-day by
reading a prepared statement which
related to Chairman Walsh s question
ing on his view of the regularity of
the conviction of John r. Lawson, a
mine workers leader. Mr.. Rockefeller
snoke of "sinister reflections and
said Chairman Walsh 5 questions had
been framed to make it appear that
Mr.. Rockefeller conceded there had
been wilful tampering with the courts.
His statement follows:
Since giving my testimony yes
tcTday. | have read with care the
stcnographer' transcript of the ques-
tons asked by the chairman of this
commission in reference to the laws
on trial, and my view of certain hypo-
thetical cases and the course | would
tike- should the facts subsequently
prove to Ne as presented.
Precise AS to His Position
As these questions all relate to a
criminal appeal at present pending
before the courts of this county. 1 feel
that my position cannot be too pre-
ciselv stated, both as respects the
questions already asked and questions
OF similar nature which may be ad-
dressed, and | therefore, desire to give
to this commission my opinion on these
matters in the form of written state
ment, which will be unequivocal and
admit of no misunderstanding or mis-
Interpretation.
{" AS already expressed, my opinion is
that justice should be so administered
as to be above suspicion, and if in any
material particular the trial of Mr..
Lawson has been wanting in this re-
spcct, l. for one. should desire to see
the Supreme Court of Colorado, to
which the appeal has been taken, care
fully consider every ground that may
be urged and giant new trial should
any material ground be sustained.
No Right to influence Justice
81 have no more right than has any
other citizen in this country to attempt
to interfere with or influence the courts
of justice, and questions which are so
framed as to seek to put me in the
position of appearing to concede that
there have beer wilful tampering with
the courts or of stating what | am pre-.
pared to do to influence the future
course of justice either as respects Mr..
Lawson or any other person, / cannot
regard as other than improper ques.
lions and a direct reflection upon those
who are charged with the admfnistra.
tion of justice. To sinister reflections
of this kind | must decline to be a par
ty. even by inference.
'Were l. either directly or indirect.
ly, to attempt to influence the Judiciary
of Colorado as respects the present ap-
peal in Mr.. Lawson S trial, | should
be guilty of the very procedure against
which witnesses before this commission
have so strongly protested, and which
j. myself, have not less strongly con
do | .Ln ,f ~
commission will not expect from me re-
plies to any questions which imply that
] believe others have been guilty of un-
lawful or improper acts in the admins
tration of justice. or that I entertain
position superior TO that of any other
citizen of the republic, either before
the law or towards its administration.
Has High Regard for Law
When Mr.. Rockefeller concluded
Chairman Walsh said
eff there are any questions | ask
that you think should not be answered.
you may state the fact, and the COM
mission will consider what should be
done. suppose your high regard for
law extends to all officers charged with
administration of the law?'
eyes, it does" said Mr.. Rookie
feller
"You haven't a contempt for Off
GERS of the law who do not do your
az don t undertake to direct the of
fieers of the law"
DO you undertake to coerce officers
of the lawl"
I'VE don t undertake to get officers
of the law in any position. That is en-
tirely improper
Mr.. Walsh said he proposed TO call
Mr. Rockefeller's attention to six let
ters written by the witness in which he
said that he backed up actions taken
by l.. NJ. Bowers, former superintend-
ent of the executive department of tffe
Colorado Fuel Company.
Protests Against Questions
Z "The letters mean,' retufned Mr..
"that there was disorder.
in Colorado. Naturally every citizen
would use every influence to get the
public officers to do their duty He
declared emphatieally that it was abso-
utely necessary for him to "back up"
the men placed in charge of the coal
Several times he objected to the ma
fure of the chairman s questions.
Despite protests led by Mrs. J. Bor- |.
len Hartman. Chairman Walsh evident /
y was not inclined to reduce his vigor- |