The New York herald., 1922-10-26
ROCKEFELLER URGES
M|LDER MINE POLICY
Admits Grievances in Som
erset County, Pa, to Be
Well Founded.
TAKES MORAL BLAME
Wants Labor to Get Voice
in Great Pennsylvania
Collieries.
ANSWERS CHURCH PLEA
Not Connected With Berwind-
White Company, Message
by Financier Says.
ANSWERS CHURCH PLEA

JOnn -. ftOckelGtleI, JI., d ialiuiity
stockholder in the Consolidated Coal
Company. one of the big operators OF
the Somerset territory in Pennsyl-
vania, admitted yesterday that the
miners grievances there are well
founded" and urged that the policy of
the operators be radically altered"
Mr.. Rockefeller's views were con-
tained in telegram sent by him from
Battle Creek, Mich, to F. Ernest John
son, secretary of the research depart
ment Of the Federal Council OF
Churches, who had asked that Mr..
Rockefeller as a stockholder in the
Consolidation and in the Berwind-
White companies, take some effective
action with regard to the distressing
conditions" Mr.. Rockefeller explained
that he owns stock in the Consolida-
tion only.
His telegram follows:
IT am glad to reply|t to the questions
which you ask me in your recent let
ter in regard to the situation In Somer-
set county, Pennsylvania.
Cannot Dictate Policies.
IT am not now nor have ever been
a stockholder in or in any way con-
nected with the Berwind-White Com
nany, directly or indirectly. ! am, how
ever a stockholder with minority in
terest in the other company which you
n'ention namely, the Consolidation Coal
Company. AS minority stockholder l
have no legal power. even If ] were
sc disposed. to dictate the policies or
that company. Moreover. must con-
cede the administrative rignts OF man.
agement within certain units of au-
thority and responsibility Apart from
these usual and recognized limitations.
whether legal or administrative. / am
r ow. and long have been. a believer
In the moral responsibilities of stock
holders.
"In this special case of Somerset
county, Pennsylvania, ] have not hesi-
tated to accept my personal response
hility or to record my own position.
This 1 have done directly and through
competent representatives. 1 believe
that the underlying grievances of the
miners in this district are well founded,
and I have urged with all the sincerity
and vigor at my command that the
present labor policy of the operators.
SShich seems to me to be both unwise
and unjust. be radically altered.
Miners Get No Voice.
1T is my understanding that the OPP
orators in the Somerset county coal
mines have hitherto denied their en-
ployes all voice and share in determine
ing their working conditions. and any
adequate machinery for the uncovering
"a M "a ftl Of 0ri ha la W
has passed when such a position can
justly be maintained by any employer.
or group OF employers, in a country
)lke ours. I have long advocated. and
never more earnestly than now. a labor
policy which comedies TO the employees
In every industrial until what / believe
to be a fundamental right, namely, the
right to representation in the determi-
nation of those matters which affect
their own interests.
LAS a member of President Wilson s
first industrial conference 1 used these
words
Representation Is principle
which Is fundamentally just and
vital to the successful conduct OF in
dustry. This is the principle upon
which the democratic government of
our country is founded. On the bat
tlefieds of France this nation
poured out it's blood freely In order
that democracy might be maintained
and that its bonefieent institutions
might become available In other
lands as well. Surely 1t is not con-
sistent for us as Americans to de-
mand democracy in government and
practice autocracy in industry
This is a conviction have long held.
1t is principle which. in the capacity
Of an individual stockholder, / have
vigorously urged as the most promising
measure for putting an end to industrial
misunderstanding and conflict"