The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-01-28
REAL INTERESTS
IF CAPITAL AND
LABOR IDENTICAL
-aocKEEELLER
Head of Colorado Fuel & Iron
Company Says Rights of
Both Must BE Conserved
In Order to Prosper.
HOPES TO AID FELLOW MAN
Regrets Strike Violence and
Denies He Seeks to Shift
Blame-Admits Errors
Plans New Policy.

New York. Jan. 26.--In a statement
today to the United States commission
on Industrial relations on the Colorado
labor situation. John d. Rockefeller, jr,.
denied that he had, as he said had been
charged, attempted to exercise kind
Of absolutism over the coal Industry
in Colorado" OF that he had sought
10 dictate a policy of nonrecognitton or
unions" On the contrary, he said. he
was most heartily in favor OF labor
unions. so long as their purpose was to
promote the well being of the employees
md they had due regard for the inter
ests OF the public. .....-
The correspondence between himself
md the officers OF the Colorado Fuel e.
IRON company during the strike, which
aas already been made public, showed
Mr.. Rockefeller said, that he had not
hesitated to make suggestions for more
adequate representation OF the en-
ployes in the determination OF matters
pertaining to their working conditions;
but that he had studiously avoided
anything which might afford ground
for the belief that he was seeking to
dictate a policy or arbitrarily control
any situation"
The Colorado Strike.
THE only coal property in Colorado
in which we are in any way Interested
Is the Colorado Fuel & Iron company,
he continued. I'm addition to this
company, there are many other coal
mining companies in that state, in none
OF which either we or the Colorado
Fuel & Iron company have any IN
terest whatsoever, and large number
of these companies were involved in.
the strike. For me 10 have attempted
to dictate a policy or control the Sit
uation would have meant an aSsump-
ton of authority far beyond what the
investment which l represent In the
Colorado Fuel & Iron company WOULD
have justified ."
DC ubtless mistakes nave been made
and conditions still are imperfect. l
have no desire to defend any conditions
that are justly subject to criticism. Il
only ask that t,'D responsibility Tor
them be appoTtloned fairly. The prob
lem now is for all concerned 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.
Something Wrong.
"As to the strike itself its many dis
tressing features have given me the
deepest concern. l frankly confess Tat
felt there was something funda-
mentally wrong in n condition of az
fairs which rendered possible the loss
and bitterness and brought suffering
and privation upon hundreds Of. human
beings. Without seeking to apportlon
blame I demanded that insofar as lay
within my power | would seek means
Of avoiding the possibility OF similar
conflicts arising elsewhere, or in thu
same industry in the future. 1t was IN
this way that l came to recommend
TO ray colleagues in the Rockefeller
foundation the instituting of a series
Of studies into the fundamental prob
ems arising out of Industrial relattoLa
which resulted I'm securing the service
" Mr.. Mackenzie King former ministe!
Of labor of Canada. to direct the
Itudies."
10 tho officers of the Colorado Fuel
md Iron company. the witness statCd
he had forwarded with his endorsement
he outline OF a plan by MI King to
establish a board on which both en-
Iloyers and employees would be repre-
ented, and before which questions af,
Getting conditions OF employment could
10 discussed and grievances examined
The president of the company replied
hat when the strike was ended thu
ompany would take steps to give the
Employees more direct representation IN
his respect. In accordance with hit
Ian Mr.. Rockefeller continued. joint
conference between the executive Cf'
ives selected by the men was held ~
Denver on January 10, and Its spirit
lad convinced the management that II
would lead to more active cooperation
jetween the company and its employees
the future"
Views On Industry.
I'm conclusion Mr.. Chairman" SAL
Mr. Rockefeller. quite apart from anJ
particular situation may I express in
81,
Individual and citizen I hold towards
the problems into which your commits
ZION has been appointed to inquire?
II believe that the ultimate object OF
Ill activities in "a republic should be the
development Of the manhood Of it's cit,
zens; that such manhood can be de.
veIoped to the fullest degree only un.
dfviduaI and that industrial enterprises
can and should be conducted in &C.
eordance with these principles. ~
II believe that corporation should
be deemed to consist of its stockhOld-
prs. directors, officers and employees:
that the real interests of all are one
and that neither labor nor capital can
permanently prosper unless the just
rights of both are conserved.
IF. with the responsibilities I have
end the opportunities given me, / am
able to contribute towards promoting
the we'll being Of nv fellow men.
through the lessening of injustice and
the alienation of human suffering. |
shall feel that it has been possible 70
realize the highest purpose OF my life. "
The witness said he and others re-
allied that the public was not getting
the facts concerning certain large cor,
porations. The witness came to believe
| II was a mistake to maintain secrecy
regarding corporations and determined
to get facts before the public. He COM
municated last spring with Ivy L. Lee
| who was then connected with the Penn
sylvania railroad.
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