Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-24
ROCKEFELLER MUST
RETURN TO STAND
Colorado Strike Correspond
enCe Stirs the Federal
Commission.
HEARING is TO BEGIN
IN WASHINGTON MAY 4
Chairman Walsh Thinks Testimony
of Witness Will Now Be More
Valuable.

ha\SAS III |, MO, April -t-lH
formation contained in letters and tele-
grams passing between John D. Rookie
Teller. jr., and officers OF the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company. made public
here by Frank p. Walsh. chairman of
the federal industrial relations com
mission. has caused Mr.. Walsh to an
nounce that the hearing concerning the
coal miners strike in Colorado will be
reopened and Mr.. Rockefeller recalled
to the witness stand.
Beside MIR. Rockefeller there will be
called to testify ]. F. Welborn, presi-
dent of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company; l.. NJ. Bowers. chairman of
the company's executive committee,
and Ivy Lee, Mr.. Rockefeller's publicity
agent. The hearing will open in Wash
ineton May 4, Mr. Walsh said.
Expect to Get at Facts.
In discussing the reopening Of the
hearing Mr.. Walsh said:
Such testimony as the commission
was able to get from Mr.. Rockefeller
concerning his knowledge and connec-
ton with the Colorado strike was frag-
mentary. but with the information now
before us ] believe he will be a much
more valuable witness We will have
Mr.. Bowers on the stand. too, to ex-
ferred in letter of August 16 to Mr..
Rockefeller. in which he said the politt-
cal gang at Washington was at its wits
end to find some way out Of the pit
they had helped the striking miners
to dig in Colorado.
THE answers to the questions we will
ask based on this information will
furnish a valuable portion Of the COM
mission s report
Prepared for the Strike.
The correspondence was obtained by
Mr.. Walsh from Mr.. Rockefellers New
York Office in compliance with a demand
of the commission. 1t was not forthcom-
ing. Mr.. Walsh announced. in time for its
contents to be used at the recent hearing
in New York. and he considered the in
formation in it of a character to warrant
the reopening of the hearing.
1.-THE commission has made a part of
its record Mr.. Walsh said, "a mass of
correspondence not only showing that the
Rockefellers were in constant touch with
every phase of the Colorado coal strike
situation, but they knew the strike was
coming and were prepared for it.
Mr. Rockefeller testified at the hearing
of the commission in New York and also
before the CONGRESSIONAL investigating
committee that he had kept his hands
off the strike situation and had no knowl-
edge of conditions in the coal fields
Says Rockefeller Was Posted.
The letters and kilograms which we
have today filed in the record make it
plain that every step taken by the
Rockefeller agents in Colorado in the
strike was taken with the knowledge
and consent of Mr.. Rockefellers office
IN New York.
'In other letters Mr.. Bowers INDUCES
in some political speculations that are
of importance. In letter to Mr.. Rock
efeller he writes:
1.-The strike has brought to the front
an issue which will secure the atten-
ton, and ! believe the cooperation. Of
business men of the country regardless
Of political affiliations-to force candi-
date for offices to come out in the open
and declare their attitude toward the
rights of employers and employees to
run an open shop. We all know that
the politicians have been giving or
ganized labor sops for the purpose of
securing their votes. I believe there Is
no man in either the republican or
democratic party who would dare come
out in opposition to the open shop
Sought Presidents Ear.
Another amazing revelation in this
correspondence is that contained in let
tiers exchanged by Mr.. Rockefeller and
Mr.. Lee. his publicity agent, at the time
Gov. Ammons was acting in the strike ad-
justlnent. The letters deal first with the
desire and plans of the Rockefellers TO
get their side Of the question before
President Wilson. Under date of June
10. 1914. Mr.. Rockefeller wrote this to
MIR. Lee:
Several points in my memorandum,
ately. 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
L hope will be very shortly
We do not know what this proposed
letter or this memorandum contained, but
we expect to find OUT, Mr.. Walsh said
Plan for Publicity.
The correspondence further dis.
Closes" Mr.. Walsh said. the fact tina,
Mr.. Rockefeller had plan for pub.
fishing string OF daily newspaper,
and financing the official organ Of tn.
National Chamber of Commerce"
Concerning the alleged knowledge Of
Mr. Rockefeller of the conditions ir
the coal fields, Mr.. Walsh quotes frou
a letter from Mr.. Bowers to Starr J
Murphy, personal representative OF
John D. Rockefeller, sr. It is concern
ing a report of an interview Mr.. Muir.