The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-10

to Hanna. Any Republican candidate
elected this year was nominated by |
Hanna at the Columbus convention.
Is 1t reasonable to suppose that any |
state official nominated by Hanna would |
refuse to do his bidding?
The workmen of Ohio who want re-
lief from the oppression of trusts know
that they will get no aid from Hanna's
political puppets who are candidates on
the state ticket this year.
When Hanna failed to- coerce Watson |
with this now famous letter the Stan |
dard tried other methods.
Watson was a visitor at the Gilsey |
house. in New York. during the tendency |
of the suit. While there Gen. Sam
Thomas, an old personal friend of
Watson, called for a conference.
Thomas led off by talking about the
suit with the Standard, and cautiously |
asked:
do you really intend to push this
case?"
Watson replied, yes" with emphasis,
and then Thomas began to expostulate.
IT don't own my Standard stock"
said Thomas. IT am not personally in
terested but many of my friends are.
They have asked me to be an interme-
diary, to talk with you and learn If you
cannot be persuaded to let this prose-
cution drop. The standard people
came to me when you brought the suit
and asked about YOU.
; 'T quietly told them that you could
not be bought and that you were un-
doubtedly bringing the action from an
honest sense of duty. Then was asked
| to talk It over with you as a friend.
You do not know the Standard oil
company, Watson. 1t is almost as
powerful as the government of the Unit
: ed States 1t has more money than
7 many of the smaller Kingdoms and
{ governments on this earth. You would
a be amazed to know the full extent Of
e of it's power, how it controls states and
e rulers of states. You know that for
o years 1t has been the victim of legisla-
d tive blackmail and that II has paid
s large sums to thwart attacks on its
!. business methods. Naturally when
n your suit was brought the Standard
y people thought this was another shake
: down to be handled in the same old way.
assured them that in your case they
z were mistaken-that you were honest
D and could not be reached in a crooked
z manner. Now, I've said all I can. ]
promised to talk with you and have
IS done so. If you are, bound to go ahead
v I can do nothing more"
Ls WATSON WAS FIRM.
lie OF course, Thomas plainly intimated
l. that it would be better for Watson
" personally If he would drop the suit
/ but Watson was not caught with tempt
n. ing references to the great power ant
or capital of the great trust. He assured
l Thomas that no influence could stoI
TO the prosecution.
m A few months later Sam Thomas
met Watson again in New York
Of "Have you been tempted lately?'
s. asked Thomas.
son.
of "Oh, thought some one might hav
ct set temptation before you," SAT-
rn Thomas. "I had a notion to telegraph
or you that you might be on your guard
t. Do you remember that a certain lawye
1g (naming him) called at your office som
time ago?"
Watson did remember the visit,
of "Did he have valise with him?" ask
ry ed Thomas.
he Come to think about it, 1 guess h
did," said Watson, but what of that
ne 1 believe he said something about stop
Tx ping over between trains"
ne Did it not strike you as odd that
~ lawyer should lug his valise into you
- Office instead of leaving it at hotel O
90 in the depot?"
of "I did not think of it," answered Wat
a son.
~. "Well, I'll explain" said Thoma:
n you may not have noticed that he ker
pretty close to that valise all the tim,
No wonder. 1t contained $10O, 900, all /
money, in bills of ordinary denomina
on tions. He was sent from New York
on Columbus with that money to buy yo
he off. If that amount was not enoug
as you could have had more. I knew a
it. about it when he started, and my sug
ey Igestion was that they might as we
at save travelling expenses However kno'
de human nature and I did not want yo
sh to make a mistake. I had a notion [
ne telegraph you lest he might make tn
offer of bribe with some trick attach
ed which would have given you troubl,
h' He asked you about the suit, and aske
you If anything could be done. You an
swered no, and he let the matter drol
ne Had you hesitated or given the least In
ch timation of weakening he would haV
ed looked around, locked the door, got ou
of window range and opened ths
ss Valise. He would have shown YOU tn
actual money and would have left
le- with you had you consented to with
ed draw the suit or postpone It,"
1t CALLED 1T A JOKE.
Is Years after this conversation Thoma
OF attempted to repudiate it by calling it
ke joke. However, the remarks were re