The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-01

with an offer. The agent didn't get
the place. But he got out alive, and
that was something.
They got Melin's license away-(''I
give them an old one" he explains
gleefully, though he doesn't explain
what good that did him. and he decid-
ed to fight. He and his wife had been
there for seventeen years; they were
well liked and respected in the neigh
borhood, and the sentiment of the peo-
pie was in their favor, but everyone
advised them to give in and sell the
place.
Rockefeller has million dollars for
every ten dollars you can raise" said
they. You can't beat him"
"All right" said Melin, his big jaw
setting firmly. "I try it, anyway"
The AntiSaloon League took up the
case against Melin, and it was tried in
White Plains. IT. cost him $500 to de-
fend the case, but he won and John
Melin's inn opened again. 1t has been
open ever since. It's popularity has in
creased locally, but the hundreds of
men employed on the Rockefeller es-
, tate, none buys his beer there. 1t ia
generally understood that patronage of
Melin is perilous to permanency in the
Rockefeller employ. Still, the inn
keeper did a good business. and was
satisfied. His chance to get back at
his rich neighbor came last month.
The Rockefellers take great interest
in road building. John d. and his
| brother, William, have built at their
own expense, many miles of roadway
for the public good. 1t is important,
to their interests that the road com
missioner should be in sympathy with
them. They did not like the road com
missioner, William Hutton, and secured
the nomination of one of their own
workmen, named Rosa Hutton.
though a Democrat is an old friend of
Melin. who is a staunch Republican.
One day he came into Melin's place,
much detected.
THE Rockefellers are going to beat
me. JOHN he said.
Don't let them" said Me1in. Flight
| 'em, same as me-"
whats the use?" said Hutton;
they've got all their workmen's
votes"
"All right" said Melin; "if you won't
fight 'em, I'll fight 'em for you"
Ee threw himself heart and soul into
| the campaign. There was nothing at
stake for him, but he wanted to beat
John D. Rockefeller. Night and day he
worked. At o'clock in the morning
! he was on the road, and often would
| be still at work at midnight. His wife
looked after the inn while he Travelled
around getting votes for Hutton.
Meanwhile, the Rockefellers were
working hard for their man. No doubt
they could. "by judicious use of
money" have got enough votes to
win but Mr.. Rockefeller is not a
man who does that sort of thing.
1t was a. fair fight and a hard one.
| The Rockefeller wagons carried the
Rockefeller Iaborers to register. and
afterward to vote. But when the
count was over John d. Rockefeller's
man was beaten by twenty-four votes.
when Hutton got the news says
Melin. in relating his victory, he come
! to my place an he throw his arms
'roun' me an throw my arms .roun
| him, an he says, John, you did IL
you can have anything I got;' an |
say, I don't want it, an we both
| dance on the floor"
Probably Melin was the happiest man
| in the township that night. For several
days following. the inn was a sort of
ratification hall. The successful candt-
dates lost no time in congratulahnS
| Melin, not only because he had been
the one man who had brought victory
to them, but also because, in their
| election, he had brought to himself a
| greater triumph than had come to any
of them. He had beaten John D. Rock
| efeller. To the prejudiced minds OF
! many of these partisans, Melin's VIC
and they talked in large phrases of the
humble citizen who had defeated the
aims of the most powerful STANDARD
Oil Trust. Melin, to them, was the
modern st. George, who, single handed
and alone. had chopped off the grasp
ing tentacles of the Pocantico hills
dragon and had forced it to flee from
the limits of the Mt. Pleasant cUrpor-
| alton.
But Melin himself has no such no
tions. He understands how much the
Rockefellers have done for the commu-
nifty Now that he has won his fight he
is thinking OF giving up the place. He
talks of this entirely without rancor.
His view is that it has been a give
and take, fair fight between himself
and Rockefeller, and he harbors no re-
sentiment at the thought that in the
end his millionaire neighbor will get
his place.
81 work here for seventeen years In
side" he says, "and 1 get very tired.
Maybe sell out after while, and then
ROCKEFELLER get my place. Maybe l go
back to Sweden then for a visit, don't
know. Anyhow, l win this time. Ach,
1 work hard for Hutton. and I got sick,
too, but / win the fight"
Herbert Wallace.