The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-17
WALSH GIVES OUT
LETTERS OF ]. D., JR.
Gov. Ammons's Denial Of Get
ting Advice From Ivy Lee
Is Upheld.
PUBLICITY PLANS SHOWN

wasHtSGroS, May l6.--The Industrial
relations Commission made public TO.
day a batch Of letters that passed be-
tween John u. Rockefeller. Jr.. and Ivy
Lee, his publicity agent. In regard to the
Colorado strike situation. 1t was this
collection OF letters upon which Chair
man Walsh based in part his recent
public attack on Mr.. Rockefeller.
The chairman charged among other
things that Mr.. Rockefeller's influence
in the strike situation had extended even
20 the state House at Denver and that
he had presumed to dictate letters that
wen, out to the President OF the United
States and to the Governors of States
evpr the signature OF the Governor OF
Colorado.
Gov. Ammons OF Colorado Immediately
characterized this statement as "a lle.'
and Mr.. Rockefeller In a formal state
nent denied II. Mr.. Rockefeller ex-
planned that Major f. j.. Boughton. Ad-
mtan,-General of Colorado. had sought
Mr.. Lees advice as to ways OF getting
the facts before the public.
Lee suggested that Gov. Ammons
mlsh, write a letter to President Will
con and to the Governors OF other
states setting forth the situation as he
saw 1t. Major B%oIghton asked Lee to
make his suggestion concrete by pre-
pairing a draft OF a letter.
According TO NJ. Rockefeller his pub
licity agent drafted his ideas and sent
them to Major Boughton. but they never
we're submitted to Gov. Ammons and
the Governor. II was asserted. never was
aware that such a suggestion had been
made.
A..nua IAfaae Raf~pp.A To
The Rockefeller-Lee correspondence
contains several references to the pro-
posed Ammons letter.
In a letter written by Mr.. Rockefeller
to Mr. Lee on June 10. 1914. Mr.. Rookie
Teller refers to a memorandum on the
Colorado situation dictated by him with
view to correcting newspaper mis-
statements. Then occur this sentence f:
Several points In my memorandum.
however. could well. even more. appro-
prately be used in the letter from Gov.
Ammons to President Wilson which you
are proposing to prepare as soon as the
Majors memorandum reaches you,
which | hope will be shortly"
In acknowledging the receipt OF Mr..
Rockefeller's memorandum Mr.. Leo. in q
letter dated JUNE II. says:
Il am inclined to think that at the
moment the best thing we can do would
be TO give the letter from Gov. Ammons
10 President Wilson our attention. and l
hope that We can accomplish something
very soon"
On June 80 Mr.. Rockefeller wrote to
Lee:
Il shall he interested to see the letter
from Gov. Ammons to the Governors and
also tbe Tarrytown article which you are
preparing"
Mr., Lee writes to Mr.. Rockefeller
again on July 2:
with reference to the letter for Gov
Ammons ! am rot entirely satisfied with
the draft ! prepared and ! am making
certain amendments to 1t. I sent out; a
dran FOR discussion. but will get IL into
shape In a day or SO and thea serd you
a copy. The idea is-and II is a difficult
one TO execute-to prepare a very brief
siAter OF the case which will COM
mand public attention rather than 20
make any very ccmpreher s.ive statemen
Q! the situation"
Mr.. Lee explained TO Mr.. Rockefeller
IN the letters his plans for getting the
lacts OF the Colorado situation before
the public and thus influencing opinion.
one OF the plans was to send ou; n
series Of leaflets to be issued by the
operators at Denver and giving their
SIDE Of the controversy.
In the Pennsylvania strike.
he told Mr.. Rockefeller that this
vas the method he had used for the
pennsylvania Railroad in the fight for
the , per tent. advance in freight rates.
He quoted from Mr.. La Follette's at
lack in the Senate in which he CHARGED
mat these bulletins had formed the
basis Of thousands OF new items, edi-
torlals and addresses.
II is thought" wrote Mr.. Lee
10 Mr. Rockefeller. that by sending
,hese leaflets 70 a large number Of
leaders OF public opinion throughout
the country you will he able 10 get GER
IAN ideas before the makers of tina:
PUBLIC opinion which will be OF value"
chairman Walsh charged that Mr..
i.ockefeiler had a plan of financing the
publication OF the official organ of the
National Chamber OF Commerce. Mr..
hockefeiler acknowledge d that the pres
.ueht ot the Chamber OF &C mmerce had
discussed with him the question Of en-
Urging the score OF the publication for
ue o,neht OF the business men OF the
country, but the suggestion never had
1en acted on favorab,y.
- letter written by Mr.. Rockefeller to
zee on June IS, 1914, says that Harry
". Wneeler Of Chicago had suggested the
Haohshing Of the official organ Of the
Natohal Chamber q Commerce on a
weekly basis with mlny additional fea-
.ufes' Mr., Rockefeller had suggested
mat Nj. Wheeler talk with Lee. on
june 10 Lee wrote In reply:
There is no doubt that something can
oe zone along these lines. The subject
so vast however. that I want to cor.
sIaer 1t very carefully before submitting
- you a definite recommendation. I
nave many thoughts in mind, but feel
mat should consider them from every
angie before presenting them to you as
worthy OF the consideration OF yourself
ana friends, ! do not believe. however.
unal Will ever come to the point OF
,n'nklng that you should establish and
uecome responsible for a string Of news
papers"
Used Strangers Suggestion.
me remark in regard to a string of
newspapers was in response to a sugges
Won that had been made in writing to
/" rockefeller BY a stranger and had
"eh forwarded by him to Lee.
IN one OF the Lee letters to Mr.. Rookie
ieler Is the following:
iou nave doubtless seen Congress-
nan Nindels speech. At the suggestion
~ Mr Bowers we are going to arrange
~ nave Mr., Kindcl distribute some
s0Voo or 10000 copies of his speech to
mailing Est which w will supply"
IN the same letter Mr.. Lee says OF his
publicity campaign:
nough We did not ask or expect
nat our bulletins be reprinted. you will
nserve from the enclosed clipping from
me chattanooga. Tenn. Netcs that the
~aSeh Is beginning to work"
III Iht.. q