The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-27

into being a tangible and organized
opposition led by the financial giants
whose interests have been threatened
by the Rockefeller campaign. This is
shown plainly in the strengthening of
the railroad alignment against the
Standard Oil combination. This organ
lied anti-Standard Oil party has form
ed behind the stalwart figure of j.
Pierpont Morgan. The leading figures
In the immediate foreground are the
Vanderbilts. f. H. Hartman. James
J Hill and A. J. Cassatt; and on
the side occupying an independent posi-
ton. but with a decided friendly Nor
gan leaning is the powerful Rock Is
land group. Mr.. Morgan's immediate
friends and following control almost
half the total railroad mileage of the
United States. or in the neighborhod
of 10000 miles. For a time it looked
as though the Rockefeller party had
secured practical control of the East
ern Trunk Line situation through enor-
nous purchases of Pennsylvania and
New York Central. but later develop
ments tend to show that the petroleum
multi milionaires fell short in this en-
deavor, and. that largely on account
of the conspicuous advertising of their
purpose to dominate they have driven
into the opposition camp strong inter-
ests which were leaning their way,
thereby preventing, or delaying at least,
the successful carrying out of the
Rockefeller grand projects.
The Standard Oil influence in Unit
ed States Steel Corporation is very
strong and with the assistance of Mr.
Carnegie it may dominate the future
management of that vast industrial
corporation. The loud talk which was
INDUCED in of bodily throwing Mr.
Morgan and his friends out of steel is
no longer heard however. Reprsal
would certainly follow any such violent
attempt. The railroads controlled by
Mr. Morgan and his friends could ruin
the Steel Corporation by diverting pat
ronage to Independent companies, and
building them up at the expense of
the big combine. 1t has been stated
that two-thirds Of the business of the
United States Steel Corporation is for
account of the railroads. and if this
statement is anywhere near approx
mately correct it will be seen at a
glance that it would be in the power
of persons controlling half the rail-
road mileage of the United States to
strike back in the event of open war
fare against their interests
Manifestly there could be no titanic
battle involving a death struggle be-
tween the Standard Oil and the Nor
gan groups. The Rockefeller combi-
nation might do an immense amount
of damage, but the hurts would not
all be on one side. Individual for
tunes have already been wrecked or
scaled down by reason of the bear
campaign conducted under the Rookie
Teller flag but as before stated the
great interests affected are better or
ganized than ever before for defense
and have a better understanding of
the true situation and the dangers
which might threaten them. To put
the case buntly the Standard Oil par
ty has rather over-played it's game
and is at last up against a stone wall.
There is excellent reason for the be-
lief that the petroleum multi-million-
aires appreciate this fact and have
changed their policy to some extent.
There is less disposition to ride
rough shod over everything and every
body of independent views who may
oppose the Rockefeller march. This
conduces to a better general under
standing and to a peaceful readjust-
ment of financial and transportation
conditions.
Progress has been made lately in the
plans for a closer relationship be-
TWEEN the Vanderbilt Hartman rail-
road systems, and there are those in
high banking circles who prophesy the
merger under one corporate control of
the Union Pacific and New York Cen
orthwestern systems. Mr.. Harri-
man has been pulling away from the
Rockefeller Gould association for a
year or more and is now recognized
as being a live, energetic factor in the
Morgan Vanderbilt Hartman party.
Such "a deal would be the fruitition of
the old original Vanderbiltian ambi-
ton for a continental railroad of
commanding influence. The Wander
Hartman combination represents
in round figures at least $4,000 miles
of railroad with many additional
thousands of miles of closely affiliated
lines and properties in which there is
part proprietary interest, such as Bal
timore and Ohio Reading, etc. Rela-
tions betwene E. H. Hartman and j.
Pierpont Morgan, which We're strained
after the Northern Pacific corner, have
become cordial. Mr.. Hartman is
frequent visitor at the banking house
of j. p. Morgan & Co., and long in
terviews betN cen the two financiers
are held.
Presidential candidates and national
politics are becoming increasingly inn
portant factors entering into specula-
tive calculations The Wall street at
titude towards President Roosevelt is
far from being friendly, although it
has dawned upon the rank and file of
the population of the financial district
that there is small likelihood of his de-
feat for the nomination. That puts
them up to the ballot box, and there is