Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21
War Against Rockefeller.
Innkeeper Melin is Now Disposed to Let the Oil Mag"
Have His Own Way
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

wanted to get rid Of the inn At any
rate he went about 1t in the wrong
way.
IF he came to me, man to man." says
John Melln, II most likely sell him my
place right off. | sci It to him for
less than / get offered afterward, too"
But the millionaire dn't so to the
inn-keeper- with n man-to-man pro-
position He sent an agent. The
agent made an offer. Melin refused
II. He made q better offer. Mein
stlll refused that. He went away
Another agent came. This one made
a still better offer Melin questioned
him shrewdly as to whom he was act
ing for. The agent went away. In a
few days still another man came Offer
ing about twice as much as the place
was worth, Melin was bored, He
asked the agent to have a drink and
not to talk business any more.
II guess | keep my own place my
self" he said emphatically.
The agents reported back to Mr.
Rockefeller and II Is a fair guess that
he was surprised. Shortly after, pri-
vate detectives appeared In the neigh
borhood and took more than friendly
interest in John Melins inn,
Their interest eliminated IN the ar
rest OF Melin and the CLOSING Of the bar
When Melin, out ON bail, returned TO
the place. another agent came TO him
with an offer. The agent didn't get
the place. But he got out alive, and
that was something,
They got Meins license away-'I
give them an old one" he explains glee-
fully. though he doesn't explain what
good that did him and he decided TO
fight. Everyone advised him to give In
ami sell the place.
"Rockefeller has 100000 for every
$40 you can raise" people said. you
can't beat him.
"All right" said Melin, his big Jaw
setting firmly IL try II any way"
The Anti-Saloon league took up the
case against Melin, and 1t was tried In
White Plains. It cost him $500 to de-
fend the case but he won, and John
Melln's inn opened again. 1t has been
open ever since.
It's popularity has increased locally
but OF the hundreds OF men employed
on the Rockefeller estate, none buys
beer there. Still, the innkeeper did a
good business, and was satisfied. His
chance TO get back at his rich neighbor
came last month.
The Rockefelers take great interest
in road building John u, and his broth
or william, have built at their own
expense, many miles OF roadway for the
public good II is important 10 their
interests that the road commissioners
should be I'm sympathy with them
They dld not like the road commits
sloner, William Hutton, aud secured
the nomination OF one of their own
worhmen, named Roose Hutton,
though a Democrat. is an old friend Of
Melin, who Is stanch Republican
one day he came into Melins place,
much detected:
"The Roekefellers are going to beat
me, John" he said.
Don't let them, said Melin. Flight
'em, same as me"
whats the use?' said Hutton,
They've got all their workmen's votes.
"All right" said Melln, III you won
fight em, I'll fight 'em for you"
He threw himself heart and soul INTO
the campaign. There was nothing ~
stake for him, but he wanted to oeat
John d. Rockefeller. Night and day ne
worked.
AT o'clock In the morning he was on
the road, and often would be sun az
work at midnight. His wife looked al,
Ter the Inn while he Travelled AROUND
getting votes for Hutton. heanwIhe
the Rockefellers we're working haro ior
their man. .st,to,,s
No doubt they could by a Judielouls
uss of money have got enough votes 10