Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-13

The standard Oil Company and Its
Manager-HOW He ScOOped Wander.
bih Out of Sl.1OO.OOO.

biit Out of 81 100000.
''Did you ever hear how John D. Rockefeller.
of the Standard Oil Company sailed VIM II.
Vanderbilt to the tune of 81. 100, OOO?" inquired
an Oil speculator of the Cleveland correspond ent
of the Chicago Netrs.
Never"
Il don't believe it ever got into the papers
You can be certain that Vanderbilt never men
toned II. and Rockefeller never talks business
10 any one. 1T got out among the oil men,
however, and has caused some talk 1t came
about In this way: Rockefeller will manage
tningS his own way. and those who do not
care to 30 it blind and obey orders might as
well look out for connections elsewhere. The
Standard, with its vast and always widening
interests. must be handled like an army on a
continual march through the country of the en-
envy. One head must plan and one hand direct.
An order is an order. and. while there can occa-
siOnally be a cOurcil of war. all the details and
many OF the decisions can come from one man
alone. There was time several years ago that
with public clamor official Investigations
trouble in the oil fields. and the always increas-
Ing burdens of management, several OF the old
timers among the stockholders felt that the day
had come for holding affairs within their defined
limits. Mr. Rockefeller did not agree with their
conclusions. and quietly ignored all suggestions
as 10 how he should conduct the business Mr.
Sam Andrews. one OF the three founders of the
Standard. knew as much as any one of the dan
gers threatening the bic monopoly and on several
occasions expressed his opinion freely. Rookie
Teller said little but with his Scotch lono-
medicines laid his plans for a move at the
proper moment. Vanderbilt at that time held a
comparatively small interest in the Standard
but had secured enough and seen enough to
make him wish for more. Rockefeller PLAYED
the Dig millionaire with his usual Skill I'd Sc
cured from him provisional offer cover ~ an
amount OF stock equal to that held by A. irews
The next time upon which question o. policy
came up between Messrs- Andrews and locke
Teller the latter suggested that il Andre rs was
dissatisfied with his connection he had better
sell out. Get me 81 coo. goo for my stocks said
Andrews. Immediately, and out / gOl' Mr..
Rockefeller smiled, aud offered him 500 600
Andrews refused but after some figuring tley
compromised on $500 900 Then Rockefeller
took that block OF stock, without the addition
OF one-tenth of a share, and dumped it on to
vanderbilt Tor two million dollars. The differ
ence went into his own pocket"
Are Vanderbilt and Rockefeller on good
terms"
Oh yes; as such things 90 They keen a
sharp eye on each other however and neither
would care TO 30 into place where the other
could give him squeeze. Rockefeller let Van
derblt into the Standard because he wished the
inside on railroad transpO rtatiOn, and Wander
bilt went in because he believed it good thing.
The old commodore liked Rockefeller i'm
mensely. and allowed him to make his own
terms for transportation between Cleveland and
New York. You, of course have heard the
Rockefeller was the only man who could die
tate to him. bat don't believe he ever said il. )"
=, lou say Andrews was one of the founders of
the Standard:
Yes. and If his ability had not been brought
into play at a decisive point in the early DAYS
OF Cleveland refining, it is by no means GER
tanty that his city would have taken the start
that has made and kept it the head-center of
oildom. Clark Rockefeller turned aside for
a moment from their commission business on
the river. and set up small experimental still.
THEY took Andrews out of their warehouse and
put him in charge. Andrews was Young and
enthusiastic, and gave his whole mind TO his
task. He worked out method by which better
Oil could be refined at less cost than by the old
way. and the business took an impetus thereby
There was money In it. and also risk. and when
slight difficulty arose between Messrs Clark &
Rockefeller the former dropped out. Money
was needed for the full DEVELOPMENT OF the bust
Ness. and 5 '. Hardness, a capitalist agreed to
put in ZOO provided H. NJ. Flagler his SON
1n-law. was let In as partner. From then the
venture proved a success. and the Standard Oil
company and its remarkable history became pos
sibIe.
Even his bitterest enemy cannot DENY that
John ID. Rockefeller Is one of the most remark
able men of even this prolific age. The owner
of SO 0OO0 OO-at 40. every cent of which he owes
TO his own ability and energy and at the head
OF the most complete and tyrannical MONOPOLY
In the world. he presents commercial figure as
unique as it is formidable. He took the oil
business when in its infancy and by doing that
which Wade did with the telegraph and Could
ana, vanderbilt with the railroads. he kept the
control of the worlds market in his own hands
and made prices or unmade them as he chose
And yet with all the scores of columns that
have been published for and against the Stand
ard. there has never been. to nv knowledge an
adequate attempt made to describe the man
Rockefeller in his own personality or to dspas-
siOnatey sketch him as he appears to those who
know him best.
1t is generally understood that he had not a
happy boyhoOd. and it is certainly known that
he commenced life without the lift of hand or
the loan of dollar from any man. His advent
from the commission business into oil has been
told again and again, and with it has been
sketched the outside history OF the Standard
and such meager portions of inside history as
could be obtained. Mr.ROckefeller in size is n lit
tie above the medium being neither thick-set nor
square. blonde of the quiet order wearing no
wnlskers. and having light mustache He ia a
peeullar-iOOking man in one respect in that his
eye says more than his face. and neither tells
anything That their pOSsessOr does not want
known He wears very quiet manner is yerv
courteous to everybody with whom he comes i'm
contact Long before his present wealth was
obtained, or even dreamed of. he was married to
Miss Lucy Spelman, teacher in the Cleveland
public schools. and a woman of high culture
beautiful face and engaging manner She was
a daughter H. B. Spellinan. temperance worker
Oh no little ren0Wn some years ago. and CLOSELY
Identlhed with the late WIN. f. Dodge of New
York in many good works. Mr.. and Mrs. Rookie
fe!ier have been blessed with three daughters
and one son. ranging from 10 to : years of age.
The greater part of the year is spent in New
YORK, where quarters are had at the Buckjno-
ham hotel. But Mr. Rockefeller aIwav looks
upon Cleveland as his home. His CITY house
where his children were born and i'm which
many years of his earlier married lite were
spent i situated on Euclid avenue. at the
Corner of Case avenue. and i always kent open
no matter where the family may be- 1t is not
a. cic-alt as are the residences of MANY men
less ric:i. but all Hs appointments are perfect
and Kept In an ;.if Of home comfort that MANY
more 20: ceoIis mansions 90 not possess
T." kOckeie..erS a:e not. and never were
society people in the social meaning of that
term They 20 out a little but i'm their home
on the hill they entertain a good deal of COM
paily OF their OAR choosing. Toward such they
extend a hospitality Of the most quiet and vet
most attractive character. making each guest
feel at home and not overpowerinr him with
Ostcntat!On- Although there are TWENTY-FIVE
servants about the place. Mrs. Rockefeller is the
hrsf one 70 meet the guest at the door: and
while every want Is met and every convenience
Is at hand the small army OF twenty-tjye do not