Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-03

nsrlors of the Kennard house. The
conversation happened to have reference
10 the Standard Oil company's monopo
IL. The home Office OF that company is
here, and all OF the gentlemen connected
with il were known with greater or less
intimacy BY each person in the party
now referred to. &c
At the time OF the informal meeting
in the parlors OF the kennard House,
lust referred to. the Pennsylvania oil
producers were making strenuous eli.
forts to break this monopoly. They
were fighting it in the Pennsylvania
Legislature, in the courts OF that State,
and were trying as we'll to get relief from
Congress in the shape OF law That
would make such discrimination illegal.
The Reagan anti.discrimination bill had
been introduced in Congress and was
then before n committee Said one OF
the gentlemen: II suppose that Gen
Garfield will help US in the passage OF
this bill. He ought to. He claims to
be the friend OF the people; to be OPP
posed TO monopolies, and TO love fair
ness.
At this remark another gentleman,
WHO lldu up w tIilS illle Sdlu nut lllliCj
got up in an excited manner and spoke
with every appearance OF Indignation:
Garfield! Gentlemen, that man is
one OF the most smOoth-tongued, oily
hypocrites in Congress. | believe all
that ever heard OF him in regard to the
Credit Mobilier charges and De Goyer's
bride. He is an arrant fraud"
The excitement OF the gentleman was
| so patent that he was asked Tor an en-
| PLANTATION.
"Well, you shall have it," he said.
"You know that j. ID. Rockafelar, the
President oil the Standard Oil Company,
and Frank Rockafellar, his brother, are
| not on good terms. Frank is connected
| with a rival concern that istIying TO pull
| through against this Standard Oil Com
pany. Frank was one of the committee
appointed to 60 to Washington and APP
pear before the Cong, ssional Commit
| tee that has this Reag"n bill before 1t.
| The Secretary OF this .UCi committee
had written TO Garfield asking his
aid. Garfield wrote back That he
| was with them; that the Reagan bill
Was IN its main features right;
| that it ought to pass, and that he
should 10 all in his power to help them.
Relying on Gdrtield's word, Frank Rock
aieiler. the morning after his arrival III
Washington, sent his card into zen.
Garfield, at the Capitol. Garfield came
bounding out, and took Rockaiellers
arm. MY dear Mr.. Rockefeller, SAID
he, Il am very glad to see you. You are
down looking after this Reagan bill
Now let me tell YOU, don't worry. 1t
isn't going To pass. am against 1t.
We shall Kill it, smother il in commit
tee. We had to let these people who
want it TO pass think We were in favor
OF it, and that would lull suspicion and
make it easier to kill it without any sus.
picion. -,
Prank Rockaiellar was amazed. lie
had assurances in his pocket that Gar
field was with them, and here he WAS
telling this story At last 1t popped into
Franks head what was up. Garfield
Didn't know him. Garfield thought,
Frank was certain, that he was talking
with j. ID. Rockaiellar, the Standard
oil man, and by this mistake lie eX-
posed his duplicity, Frank stopped
walking, and, looking Garfield full in the
face, said:
"'Excuse me, General, but am not
J. u. Rockaielar, OF the Standard, ] am
Frank RoCkalellar, OF an opposition
company, and came to see you because
had your assurance that you were
with Us on this Reagan bill. Forum
atcly have discovered your real nature
and purpose. Good morning, sir.
Garfield could not say word. lie
tried TO make some apology, but Frank,
thoroughly disguised with the mans
hypocrisy, would nave nothing to do
with him. That's the kind oil man
Garfield is, and sooner or later the peo-
pie i'll his district are bound TO find him
out
This conversation took place a year
and hall before Garfield was nominal
ell for the Presidency.