The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-25

IN which We are IA any way interest,"
ed Is the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany." he continued. In addition to
this company. there are many other
coal mining companies II that state.
IN none Of which either We or the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
have any interest whatsoever, and q
large number Of these companies
were involved In the strike. For me
to have attempted to dictate q policy
or control the situation would have
meant an assumption Of authority far
beyond what the investment which !
represent In the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company would have Justified,
and. II tolerated by the management
of that company, would have been re-
scented by the other companies In
volved In the dispute.
Doubtless mistakes have been
made and conditions are still imper-
feet. have no desire to defend any
conditions that are Justly subject to
criticism; only ask that the respon-
stbflity for them be apportioned lair
~. The problem now is for all COM
cerned to develop increasing good will
and to improve conditions as far as
may be possible. To that end my
thoughts and activities have for some
time been devoted.
AS to the strike itself, Its many
distressing features have given me
the deepest concern. frankly confess
that felt there was something funda-
mentally wrong In a condition OF af-
fairs which rendered possible the loss
OF human Lives, engendered hatred and
bitterness, and brought suffering and
prfvation upon hundreds OF human be-
tngs. Without seeking to apportion
blame, ! determined that In SO far as
lay Within my power would seek
means of avoiding the possibility Of
similar conflicts arising elsewhere, or
IN the same industry In the future.
1t was in this way that i came to rec
omnend to my colleagues In the
Rockefeller Foundation the institutfng
OF series OF studies into the ftlnda-
mental problems arising out Of In
dustrial relations, which resulted in
securing the services OF Mr.. Macken-
zte King, former minister OF labor Of
Canada, to direct the studies"
To the officers Of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company, the witness stated,
he had forwarded with his endorse
ment the outline Of plan by Mt.
King to establish a board on which
both employers and employees would
be represented and before which
questions affecting conditions OF em-
ployment could be discussed and
grievances examined. The president
Of the company replied that when the
strike was ended the company would
take steps to give the employees more
direct representation in this respect.
In accordance with this plan, Mr..
Rockefeller continued, joint confer
ence between the executive officers Of
the company and Representatives ser
lected by the men was held in Denver
,, on January 10, and cts spirit had
convinced the management that II
would lead to more active co-opera-
tion between the company and Its
employees in the future
Elm conclusion, Mr.. Chairman" said
Mr.. Rockefeller, quite apart from
amy particular situation, may ! ex-
press in utter frankness the views
which as an individual and citizen
hold towards the problems Into which
your commission has been appointet
to inquire? believe that the ultimate
object OF all activities in a republic
should be the development Of the man,
hood of It's citizens; that such man
hood can be developed to the fullest
degree only under conditions OF tree
dom for the individual, and that in,
dustrtal enterprises can and should
be conducted in accordance with these
principles. I believe that a corpora.
ton should be deemed to consist Of
its stockho1d ers, directors, officers and
employees; that the real interests Of