The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-25
SAYS
He DID NOT TRY
TO EXERCISE
ABSOLUTISM
Colorado Fuel and Iron Mag
nate Declares He Did Not
Seek to Dictate Policy of
noRRecognition Of Unions.
PROPER FOR BOTH LABOR
AND CAPITAL TO UNITE
Son of Standard Oil Chief As
sert He Favors Associations
of Employees Whose Object
is Benefit Of Worker.

is Benefit Of Worker.
New york Ian. ss.---John ID. Rock
eiellcr. Jr.. testified today before tho
federal comnifsior on industrial re-
iations in the invcsglgation which 4
has been conducting hore into tho
management OF rhilanhropic foanda-
tions and the causes of Industrial un-
rest.
MIR. Rockefeliera testimony dealt
largely with the labor situation IN the
Colorado mining region. Reading
from a prepared statement. he denied
the' he had sought or even wished TO
EXERCISE a sort Of absolutism over the
con- industry In Colorado aud declar-
m ne was most heartily IN favor OF
d. eor unions o. long ~ they ned due
regard Tor the Interests ni M pabiic.
The only coal property IA Col-
orado In wsich Ne arc "a any way
Interested t.c cnier ado Puei ana
Iron companF NJ Kockcfeller said.
FOR M i9 hHfa attempted 10 die
tate a poiiry DR. oonuoi the situaiioa
would heie m,nnt AN assumption OF
authorlt, far heyend what the invest
ment whish reprv-ent would hase
Justified
He said.
Il believe il t9 be jaf - proper
and advantageous TO- labor 20 aHsool-
ate RHelf nto organised gronps for
the adsan 4mcnl q, q egltimate IN
to- Is AZ FOR cari'ti % rombtne for
ine lIne object. Sometimes they
lab0r uuions) pInslae benefit fea-
tnr,s .pmctimoa tau5 sees 10 increase
nafes ru wha .efci heir spcciuc
nuri 1ro So long as j s 70 promote
fhe neh pe.ns ~ me employcs. hav-
l1E aioays Duo regard for thc just In
torosia ot The employer aad the pub
l. lelNinr every worker FREQ 20 as
Foelnir himself with sueh groups. or
to work independently. az he may
chopsc favor them most heartily"
nefsrrng p the rsfusal OF the COL
ored0 fuoi ard IRON aunpany to rec
ognize ihe tinted Mine Workers. tho
Statement sHys,
"The aeeh hian of the csiiccs with re-
speci 20 TIE rtsosnition ~ the union
WIS reach a Without any consultetion
or communication with me, and had
no kn0wledge Of their decision uHtil
after the strike had been declared
Rockefeller added:
'As 10 toe strike itself, its many
distressing features have gisea mo
the deepest concera. frankly COM
fess that felt there was something
fundamentally wrong In the condition
Of affairs which rendered possible the
loss OF human lives. ensenGered hat
red and bitterness. and brought sur
fering and privntion upon hundreds
OF human beings Without sfeking 20
apportion blame. ! dcternitrti inro-
FAR ss lay within ms power would
seek means of avoiding the poasibil-
ity OF similar conflicts srising else
where or "a the same industry In the
future. II was Ia this way that
came TO recommend 60 my colleagues
in the Rocket, Her foundation the Ia
shutting uf a series OF studies into the
fundamental problems arising out of
Industrial relations which resulted In
securing the .orvlccs Of Mr.. Macken-
zie King. former minister Of labor OF
Canada. 10 direct the studies"
To the officers Of tho Colorado Fuel
and Iron comps ny. the witness a'nteu,
he had forwarded with hts endorse
ment the outline OF a pian BY Mr..
King u establish board ON whica
both cmpi and employees would
,e rcpresl nted. and before which
questions affecting conditions ~ en-
ployment cJuid be discussed and
grievances examined. Tae president
of the company replied that when tna
strike was ended he company would
take ateps to give the employees more
direct representation IN this respect
Ia accordance with this plan, Mr.,
Rockcfuliar continued. a Joint confcr-
cnce between the executive officers of
the company, and representatives Re-
D. ra ty the men was held in Dem
v.r an January 30. aad sits spirit had
..us sinred the m9nneement that 4
u..ild lead 70 more active opera
ton between the COMPANY Anf iis ein-
ployes In the future
Commissioner wash asked II dur
lax 1914 starr J Nufphy. Jerome y.
Greene and ,effnrs. an on tho per-
aunal stnf oi 5nha -. Rockefelier,
we're dire firs of tie Colorado Fuel
and Iron company the witness said
yes.
Prior ll lhat he Nitneas said. he
and others fetilted tha, the pubic
was not ge.tiag Ihf fiffs roncefninE
certain larse eorlorailont chs vii
noes came 10 believe Il wa mistake
20 maintain necrst regardinF eoFpo-
rntions and dctcGnlned 10 put tho
fa,ts tefofe the public. iie comlnn-
rioated last spring With Tvs 1. Lee.
whn was then ecnnqcted with me