ROCKEFELLER'S CONSCIENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 92, 25 May 1914, Page 8

ROCKEFELLER'S CONSCIENCE.

NO QUALMS ABOUT LIFE LOST. Sarcastic comment is made to-day. on "Rockefeller's- elastic conscience" as the result of the evidence given by Mi Johnl). Rockefeller, junior/ before the special Congressional Comjnittee enquiring into th 6 disastrous strike riots 1 which drenched the Colorado coal fields with blood last autumn, writes an American correspondent. The strike arose through ths .. refusal; of the .Trinidad Coal and- Iron Company to recognise the miners'■ union/ , and, the State troops .were called out" to preserve order. It is alleged that the ; rioting was caused by "agents provocateur,?' and that the troops acted., with great brutality in charging and. shooting down men, women, and. cliil- ; dren , indiscriminately. Many strikers were killed, and a Congressional enquiry was ordered. Mr Rockefeller, junior, who is a; director, the Trinidad Coal and Iron on being asked, blandly professed entire ignorance as to the details ' of the rioting and causes of the strike. He admitted that his father owned 40 per cent, of the company's stock, bufr declared that neither of them interfered with the management of ' and that they knew very little about , the matter. , , - ! : "We, have,so many it , is impossible for us to supervise, personally everything," said the mil-, lionaire. „ ; ""You managed to find time for social uplift work and vice tions," retorted one of the committee, "why then did you not investigate conditions in your own business? Cliarity begins at home, you know." '' My conscience acquits me of any ! responsibility in the matter," repliedMr Rockefeller. "Oil must be very .sooUiing, then," said his questioner. ■* Mr Rockefeller got rather angry when it was pointed out that the news-, papers had given plenty of details as - to working conditions in Trinidad, and ■' that a word from his father would have- ' stopped the bloodshed and ended the strike. He declined to agree to submit 5 the dispute, to arbitration, and declared- • that the company would rather sacrifice ' the whole of its property in Colorado than recognise the miners' union df ifc ! hampered the freedom. - >