Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-21
I'D. ROCKEFELLER, R.,
FACES THIRD DEGREE"
BEFORE +. P. WALSH
Merciless Questioning by
Chairman OF. Commission
on Colorado Strike and
Coal Prices Brings Pro-
test From Millionaire.

WASHINGTON. May Ell have nc
more right than has any other citizen
IN this country to interfere with or in
sffuence the course of Justice" today de-
clared John u. Rockefeller, Jr. in a state
rnent he read when he again took the
stand before the Industrial Relations
Commission
Mr.. Rockefeller resented the attitude of
Chairman Walsh who yesterday subject
ed him to searching examination as
to his attitude toward the striking miners
in Colorado. and with particular regard
TO the case of John r. Lawson, n mem
Der Of the United Mine Workers Of
America, who recently was convicted Of
murder and sentenced to life imprison
ment In that state in connection with
the Ludlow strike.
wALsH'S CHARGE
Chairman walsh charged that W. w
Wilson, one of the Jurors who found
Lawson guilty, had been a travelling
salesman in the service Of biscuit COM
pany which had sales privileges in the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company's
plants. Mr.. Rockefeller said that he
could not take a stand either one way
or another on the Lawson case, as such
an attitude on his part would be all
uniustihable and improper interference
with justice.
In connection with the appointment of
L. NJ. Bowers. as chairman of the Board
of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
Walsh asked If Rockefeller had simply
put Bowers In without consulting others.
II object to that method of putting a
question" said Rockefeller. You imply
we have Objectionable methods of filing
offices. You are implying Irregularities in
our methods of appointment" He added
-"Offtcers were elected at regular stock
holders meetings but when vacancies oc-
CURED in an interim between such meet
ings the board OF directors followed the
usual course of filling the vacancies"
SATIRE GALORE.
with reference to the questions" said
Walsh. "if there are any you think i'm
proper. please state the fact and they
will be considered by the whole com
mission later.
Now as for this high regard for the
law" continued the chairman, 'it ex-
tends. l suppose. to all the officers
charged with its administration"
yes"
you have no contempt for officers of
the law who refuse to do your bidding?"
"I haven't"
You have respect?"
'T have"
DO you first get them in a state OF
coercion before you give them that re-
spect?'
II don't undertake to get them into any
state"
Walsh took up the matter of l.. NJ
Bowers assignment to Colorado. He read
a letter written by Bowers to Rockefeller,
November Is, 1913 in which the former
said 1--WE have been able to line up all
the bankers;" that the little cowboy
Governor" would be brought to time
that every possible weapon was used
to keep Governor Ammons from back |
EiidinR,' that 'nrohn hafn ,,yas
such pressure brought to bear on a Gov
ernor.' that "taffy" was being used to
keep Ammons in the right frame of mind
Rockefeller objected that Bowers, |
not he, wrote the letter.
we have six letters written by 'yotI
saying you back up all that was being |
done in Colorado" said Walsh.
Rockefeller answered that he ini-
tiated no policy in Colorado; he thought
II right to use every proper means to
protect their interests, and if officials
were sluggish, to seek to move them to
do their duty He refused to admit any
improprlety in his own letter TO
Bowers referring to material to be
used in prospective letter from
Governor Ammons to President Wilson.
Asked If the elder Rockefeller per-
sonally directed affairs in Colorado.
Rockefeller said:
"My father is not in the habit of deal
ing personally with associates"
Chairman Walsh read an extract from
the testimony of the Attorney General of
Colorado before the commission, in which
he stated that the price OF coal during
the winter of the strike had advanced
and was SO to so n ton.
Should the commission gather that
that statement is untrue?" asked Walsh.
''The commission will gather what II
pleases. but claim the same considera-
ton given that statement for the state
ment of the president of my company"
Rockefeller replied.
AS TO COAL PRICES.
Odd you as a director of a great
public utility know that the price of coal
was prohibitive?
A.-Mr. Welborn says that the price !
was not changed except on account of
snow blockades
Q. You have heard that your company !
cheated in the Weighing OF coal?
A. have heard that the operators did.
Q. You regard that as an abomnable +.
crime. do you not?
A, We do not disagree on that.
Q. Did your company cheat?
A, Not to my knowledge.
Q. You combined with other operators
TO night the United Mine Workers did
you not7
A-Not TO fight them.
Walsh asked Rockefeller If he would go
out to Colorado and see that miners 4
robbed by check weighmen were relm- e
II don't consider that my duty as a h
citizen Rockefeller said. He refused TO 4
agree with Wash that he was an ac 9
cessory after the fact because he had I
taken no action. .
las director OF the Colorado Fuel and n
Iron Company" asked Walsh "did YOU
oF did you not know that coal prices were n
1rohibitive during the strike in ColoradoY' b
Il have Mr. Wellborn's statement that n
prices were not raised" said Rockefeller. b
DO you know what the price of coal d
8as7' 4
u don't pretend TO know the price of
'oal there at any time" I,