May 20, 1914
ROCKEFELLER BACK; I.W.W. SIEGE RAISED
Financier Returns to Desk After 19 Days of Illness and Worry.
“MOTHER” JONES NOW CHIEF TORMENTOR
Statement That Oil King’s Son Is Afraid to Interview Her Denied
For the first time in nineteen days John D. Rockefeller, Jr., cured of
his “cold” and up to his ears in work, is back at his desk in the Standard Oil
Building, whence Sinclair's "mourners” drove him the first of May. Since
his retreat to Pocantico most of his tormentors have been silenced or placed in
jail.
Upton Sinclair is in Colorado. Marie Ganz is on Blackwell’s Island for
six months. So is Bouck White, who broke up the service at the Calvary Baptist
Church ten days ago,and with him is Milo Woolman, an anarchist and I.W.W. Becky
Edelson and Sam Hartman are still about, but their talk lacks “punch” and the
crowds do not respond. The Church of the Social Revolution is still flickering.
“Mother” Jones, alone of the agitators, has stuck to her guns,
denouncing Rockefeller at nightly meetings. She declares Rockefeller is afraid
to see her, and that her request for an interview was refused without even
being read.
This, however, Mr. Heydt, secretary to the financier, denied.
“If ‘Mother’ Jones comes to the office she will be treated
courteously,” he said, “and get a hearing. Her letter was not opened because it
is the invariable custom of the office to open no letter sent by registered
mail unless it bears the sender’s name on the outside. Hers didn’t.
“She can’t see Mr. Rockefeller himself, however. He’s too busy—and it
would do no good. He’s a minority stockholder in the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company and can’t influence its dealings with the miners, etc.
“No, he’s not making any personal investigation of conditions out
there. Why should he?”
“He will not comment on the sentence imposed on White, but he stands
behind Dr. Woelfkin and the church. He has been much affected by the things
said and printed concerning him.”
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