Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-23
Head Of Industrial Relations
Commission Fires Irrelevant
Questions at Millionaire
Witness,
MANY HYPOTHETICAL
QUERIES PR0P0UN0ED
Little Headway Is Made in e.
fort to Gain Admission That
Ludlow Killing Was Unjusti-
fable,

Washington, May 22. 49, Concluding
his two-day examination by the in
dustrlal relations commission John ID.
Rockefeller. Jr.. entered denials to
three charges which, II sustained,
would, according TO Commissioner
Weinstock, "lay al the door OF the
Colorado mine operators the RESPONSE
bility for the unfortunate happen
ings. in the Colorado coal strike. The
charges We're framed and presented
by Commissioner Weinstock as being,
in brief. the allegations brought
against the operators by the strikers.
Despite frequent clashes between
the witness and Chairman Walsh, as
to the form OF questions. there was
little friction at the hearing today
Only two members Of the commission
Chairman Walsh and Commissioner
Weinstock, attended throughout the
days session.
Case OF the Strikers.
When Chairman. Walsh finished
questioning Mr.. Rockefeller, Commits
sioncr Weiustock presented letter
to the latter which set forth a pre-
liminary statement. IN which the COM
missioner re.icwtd the commission Is
inquiry into Colorado conditions.
What have been able IN brief. to
get out OF IT all. II read. SIS that the
strikers and their sympathiZers make
three specific briefs
THAT at no time after the strike
could they get hearing at the hands
of the operators.
THAT the civil and judicial nachin-
cry for obtaining such justice as the
law affords was In the hands of the
operators and not available TO the
strikers.
THAT the operators. through their
agents. were the first TO resort to vlo-
lence and that all the violence which
followed was defensive on the part of
the strikers and not offensive.
IF these three charges have been
established then it must be plain that
the responsibility for the unfortunate
happenings in Colorado must clearly
be laid at the door Of the operators
and the strikers arc entitled to all
support and sympathy of the Ameri-
can people,
Answers by Rockefeller.
Answering the first charge, Mr
Rockefeller said
The representatives of the unions,
so far as | know, haze not met in
conference with the operators, but
the striking miners. as | understand
1t, were present ut meeting called
by Governor Ammons on Noyem Der
26. where they met three OF the ops
orators with the governor ana dis
cnssed the situation"
Mr. Rockefeller quoted a telegram
from President Welborr, of the Col
orado Fuel & iron Co, relating to
this discussion and said this was the
only conference he knew Of at which
representatives Of the miners were
present.
'The Colorado Fuel & Iron Co, +"
he continued, have always been and
are always ready to meet with their
men on with their representatives
whom their men way eleet---men
working in their mine.
"As to whether the civil and in-
diciaI machinery was in the hands
of the operators and not available to
the strikers, ] ana not In a position
to state. | have understood testimony
has been offered on both sides. II
think the fact, without regard to par
ty lines, il that the election which
took place in Colorado In the fall,
turning out as il did, would indicate
that the ballot is still powerful in that
state to represent the will OF the peo-
pie"
Violence started by strikers.
Discussing the final charge as toI
the beginning OF violence in the strike |
Mr.. Rockefeller asserted:
81 naturally regret. now that these /
are all matters of the past, to 70.
open the question of whore the blame /,
may properly rest. but the informa-
tion / have is that the beginning OF /
was on The part of the
strikers when one Of the camp mar
shals vas killed
MI. Rockefeller quoted from let /
ter to him from former Superinten- I
dent Bowers Of the Colorado com |
Dany reporting the shooting Of a mar I
shall on September %.
Chairman Walsh read a letter TO |
by H. NJ. Bowers In Sep
-ember, 1913, saving
"Oll Mother Jones has beeh on the /
ground for two weeks. but we under /
stood the governor has ordered her TO |
be taken to the state line and to be |
.old not to return.
Walsh then read part Of Rockefel-
ers letter 10 Bowers. saying he would |
back the mine officials in everything
hey did and asked If il was not writ
zen after deportations had occurred. |
"Will you be kind enough to read |
III of my lettery' Rockefeller de-
I cant do that at this time. said
(cOniinnsd on Page Two, !