Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-30
MINE WORKER BITTERLY
ATTACKS ROCKEFELLER
Board Member for Colorado Vigor-
ously Arraigns Methods and Pur.
poses OF Foundation.
WON'T HEAR CRY OF DESPAIR
Thousands of Starving Employees
Wish to God They Were in Bel
GUM TO BE Fed, or n Bird to BE
Tenderiy Cared For.

NEW YORK. January 2a-John r.
Lawson. executive board member for
colorado of the United Mine Workers
of America. tcstifying to-day before
the Industrial Relations Commission.
attacked the testimony of John d.
Rockefeller. Jr, and the methods and
purposes OF the Rockefeller Founda-
ton.
Mr. Lawson told OF the shooting Of
striking miners in Colorado. and the
shattcrinE of miners homes. and of
how hundreds were turned out into
the desert In 1908 without food or
water, while others were driven over
the snow-covercd mountains lie Wig
orously arraiEncd Mr.. Rockefeller for
his confessed lack of knowledge of
conditions among the workers OF the
Colorado Fue! and Iron Company
The philanthropy OF the Rockefcllers
MIR. Lawson referred TO as follows:
Health for China. a refuge for birds.
food for the ielgians. pensions for New
York widows. university training for
the elcct-and never II thought or q
dollar for thousands of men, women
and children who starved in Colorado
for the widows robbed Of huaba ntls
children of their fathers. There are
thousands of Mr.. Rockcfellcrs en-
ploNes In Colorado who wish 10 God
they were In Belgium to be fed. or a
bird to be tenderly cared for"
REVIEWS ONLY PART
OF ROCK EFELLER'S STORY
Reviewing that part or Mr.. Rookie
fcllcr's testimony in which he said he
had received only $37l 900 in dividends
In all on his stock In the Colorado COM
pany, hr. Lawson said:
1T was only under questioning that
he confessed that his father had re-
ceivcd SS,SS9.000 from his bonds and
that the assets of the company were
S23,o00.00O in excess of liabilities, and
that this item did not take in property
values OF some sl9.o00.OOO.
Whatever appearance of poverty
that clings to the company is not due
to anything but Its own stupid and
corrupt policy. Had it taken the
money ii has.spent In controlling Of
hcials and the electorate, purchasing
machine guns, employing gunner, and
crushing the aspirations of human be-
ings, and spent it in wages and the
improvement OF working conditions. IL
would have had rich returns
These are vital causes Of industrial
discomfort, an employer who never is
seen, ana whose power Is handed dow m
from man TO man until there Is a chain
that no individual can climb; our lives
and our liberties passed over as q birth
day gift or by will: our energies and
futures capitalized by hnanciers in
distant cities; our masters too often
men who never have seen us who care
nothing for us and who will not or
cannot hear the cry OF our despair
DRAWS MILLIONS FROM
INDUSTRIAL. INJUSTICE
There is not one OF these founda-
tions. now spreading their millions
over the world in Showy generosity.
that does not draw those millions from
some form OF industrial injustice IL
is not their money that these lords Of
commercial virtue are spending, but
the withheld wages or the American
working class.
Mr.. Lawson referred to the Rookie
feller Foundations approximation OF
S1,000.000 for investigation into the
causes OF industrial unrest las what
this commission was appointed TO do"
who are the directors of this foun-
dation out OF which comes this investI-
Gation?" Mr.. Lawson asked
The two Rockefcllcrs: their Dro
CONTINUED on Seventh Page)