The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-24
ASKS WHO BEGAN
THE VIOLENCE
Financier Shows Company's
Attorneys We're With
drawn from Prosecution

relations committee Saturday at Wash
ington, John d. Rockefeller, jr entered
denals to three charges, which, If sus
tanned would according to Commission
er Weinstock, ''lay at the door of the
Colorado mine operators the responsible
ity for the unfortunate happenings in
the Colorado coal strike. The charges
were framed and presented by Commits
sioner Weinstock as being, in brief, the
ALLEGATIONS brought against the operators
by the strikers.
Despite frequent clashes between the
witnesses and Chairman Walsh as to the
form of question. there was little friction
at the hearing Saturday. Only two mem
bers OF the commission, Chairman Walsh
and Commissioner Weinstock, attended
throughout the days session.
When Chairman Walsh finished ques-
tionng Mr.. Rockefeller, Commissioner
Weinstock presented letter to the lat
ter which set forth a preliminary state
ment in which the commissioner reviewed
the commissions inquiry into Colorado
conditions.
what I have been able, in brief. to
get out of it all" it read, sis that the
strikers and their sympathizers make
three specific charges: That at no time
after the strike could they get a hear
ing at the hands of the operators; that
the civil and judicial machinery for OBJ
tanning such justice as the law affords
was in the hands OF the operators and
not availa bic to the strikers: that the
operators, through their agents, were the
! first to resort to violence and that all the
violence which followed was defensive on
the part of the strikers, and not often
sive
'If these three charges have been es-
tablished. then it must be plain that the
responsibility for the unfortunate hap
penings in Colorado must clearly be laid
at the door of the operators and the
strikers are entitled to all support and
sympathy of the American people"
Answering the first charge Mr. Rookie. |
Teller said: "The representatives of the
unions, so far as ! know, have not met /
in conference with the operators; but
the striking miners, as ! understand it,
were present at meeting called by Gov
ernor Ammons on Nov. 90 where they
met three of the opera tors, with the
governor. and discussed the situation"
Mr.. Rockefeller received telegram
from President Welborn of the Colorado
Fuel & Iron Co. relating TO this meet
ing, and said this was the only confer
ence he knew Of at which representatives
of the miners were present.
"The Colorado Fuel & Iron Co." he
"have always been and always
are ready to meet with their men or
with the representatives whom their men
may elect--men working in their mine.
"As 10 whether the civil and judicial
was in the han ds Of the on. L
orators and not available TO the strikers.
I am not in a position to state have I
understood testimony has been offered on :
both sides. think the fact, without re.
gard to party lines. is that the election
which took place in Colorado in the fall.
turning out as IL did. would indieate
hat the ballot is still powerful in that
state TO represent the viii of the peo-
ole.'
beginning Of violence in the strike. Mr..
asserted: II naturally regret.
low that these are all matters Of the
asst, 10 reopen the question Of where the
lame may properly rest. but the infor-
nation ] have is that the beginning Of
iolence was on the part of the strikers
When one Of the camp marshsls was
Tiled"
Mr. Rockefeller quoted from a letter 10
i'm from former Superintendent Bowers
Z the Colorado company. reporting the
hooting Of a marshal on SEPT %
Earlier in The day Rockefeller. after =
light brush with Chairman Walsh owe
be introduction Of letter he caused 20
r written 20 President Welborn 81 the
colorado Fuel a Iron Go. BY starr J.
iurphy, his counsel. succeeded IN getting
efore the commission an account 81 his
art In having ATTORNEYS for the company
.ithdrawn "a assistants % state autho.
ies IN prosecuting strikers. e
When he had heeH Informed that tie -
Bupany's ATTORNEYS rad h-esu eonmis- -
oned o. assist IN sues prosecuti ION. they II
ere withdraw fron 81 saeh eases D.. 4.
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