The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-07-27

Is Ii;
thoroughly acquainted with farmhouse
manners, and Mr.. Morgan showed the
best. He was pleasant and neighborly.
There was no disposition to assume
that had no business to be there. He
stood ready to hire me to plough in his
fields or to buy or sell million dollars
worth OF bonds. But. his yes was yes.
and his no was no. =.
When I entered the office rooms Of
the amalgamated association I was
curious to see the man who was fight
ing Morgan. Iyhad seen more than a
little of the leader of the steel trust.
For three years I had been going to
New York toarhnd out about things.
Many and many a time learned that
the only man who really knew was
Morgan. That big, square, steady look
ing man. He would not tell. He looked
like monument. He was so sturdy.
He was so sure.
I went into the modest Offices of the
third story Of the Bliss building. There
was no row of messengers and secre-
taries to stop me and to inquire my
business. In fact there was no one.
found the offices in an l. shape FORM
Doors from the hall entered into all
private and public. went into a main
room. lined with a great number of
books. I lounged around there for sew
eral minutes before any one gave me
any notice or attention. Final
ly six-footeR with half red hair, broad
shoulders, muscular frame, blue eyes,
came to me and asked me what I
wanted.
Il would like to have few minutes
with the PRESIDENT
He is very Busy" came the prompt
answer.
"Then let me see his secretary. He
can answer my questions"
What are your questions?"
II am a newspaper man from Wash
ington. I want to understand the
strike"
At this moment had some difficulty
In making it clear that my business
was as represented. When I had sue
ceeded he said:
''All right. Come this way. am
President schaffer'
The big fellow with the leather belt
around his waist, with eavy, hcourse,
half red hair, with smiling blue eyes,
that was Schaffer. had met him the
same as newsboy. He was ready to
talk with the man who had business
with him. There was no machinery or
expedience.
We had our talk. I was fresh from
Wall street. had been talking to the
man in the great white marble building
at Broad and Wall. He knew the mean
ing and trend of the Morgan mind.
Before I went to see Mr.. Schaffer I
had called upon Pittsburg men who
knew what was going on. They told
me many things. Among these was the
fact that Schaffer was honest. wond-
cred If it was so. In many years of re-
porting had found many labor leaders
who were otherwise. This man can
not be handled" said the business men
and spectators with whom talked.
I thought of that when I met Presi-
dent Schaffer. He wore no coat and
was very earnest. I had seen that be-
fore. His brow was broad, his eyes
were deep set, his look was most SER
ious, his mouth was steady and stern,
he was bothered about foolish and SER
ious things. had seen the false front
Of labor leaders. It was not here. He
told me what he had to say. He told
nae what he could not talk about. His
secretary was called to give figures
when he could no remember. I knew
this man. He was the city editor, the
managing editor. He was the cashier,
the president, of the bank. He did not
try to fool me. He was big with under
standing, he was large with capacity to
know.
The man who deals with public men
as a daily bit of work learns to know
them. Here was one who was playing
fair. There was no doubt about it.
But that did not tell the whole story.
The mind hurried to Morgan at Crags-
ton. There was a man big and strong
who knew the whole. world. He had
the machinery to do things. It was the
Here was a man who did things. talk
ed to a man who thought Of things.
One was the man who moved men by
the force of absolute control. The 9TH
er depended upon friendly or sympa-
thetic spirit. One had the capacity to
think and know. The other had te
capacity to do and act.
Which was the stronger? Here was
the man at Broad and Wall; with the
money force of a continent at his back.
Here was a stern, honest man at