The San Francisco call., 1904-06-14
ROCKEFELLER'S LATEST.

~ HE latest report about John d. Rockefeller
charges him with design merge the mines of
L America and perhaps of the world i'll one combina-
ton headquarters under his hat These mining combi-
nations have heretofore been managed by the RothS
child who are supposed to control the worlds produc
tion of quicksilver and copper If American has risen
who can see the Rohschd hand and go better, it
is matter of interest to inanciers.
AS matter of fact great mining combinations are
in this country. The Haggln and Hearst IN
equal in holdings to the Standard Oil be-
fore it invaded Europe Senator Clark has genius
for such combinations and his interests run from Mon
tana to Mexico It is plain that he and Henze and
Senator Kearns and the Haggn interests will gain by
going into larger Rockefeller combination, it
reported they intend doing
The silver mines of this country and Mexico al
ready practically controlled by the Guggenhens, who
are believed have been responsible for the advance
in the price of silver which began last year mining
combination differs from made in manufactures
The history of gold discoveries in Colorado and Utah
and in Alaska proves that estimate the flu
of that leader of the precious metals AS gold in
the ground is potential money of practically unchange
able value the next prospector may make find that
will be entirely independent of Rockefeller and Roths
child combined.
1t perhaps easy to control an independent manufac-
turer and compel him to rival combine go
of business but this is impossible in mining When
Mexican peon find mine, Pedro Alvarado did,
and in year acquire such wealth that he afford to
offer to pay the national debt of Mexico the difference
between mining and manufactures in the power of
bnaton over them is made apparent. The reve-
latOns in copper in Alaska prove that that metal
cannot long remain in the control of any combination
Again. it is hardly possible to apply to mining of its
many kinds the principles by which the Standard Oil
Company has made its profit, which has been by
economizng in methods and cheapening the product
the consumer. Gold be cheapened from the
present outlook 1t is perishable property like
oil that must be consumed in order to profit to
its producer While is lost and wasted. put
where it is a part of the actual currency of the
world still. fixed in position the arts wherever it
is it is potential money.
1t is said that the gold stored in the Vatican in OBJ
ecs and in other forms equals in value the gold
coined and used money by the entire continent of
Europe. But that Vatican gold is merely stored 1t
is not consumed destroyed and it is easily think
able that if the worlds need of gold money grew
strong enough to outweigh the considerations
which keep stored in other forms it would be made
mobile to respond to that need
OF course there will once arise fear that such
combination this engineered by Rockefeller may so
control the output of the precious metals pinch
the nations that use them as currency. But with the
mines of Siberia and South Africa in operation con-
slant discoveries in Alaska. is difficult to how this
could be done If attempted, might have the dis
effect the combine that the independent
put OF copper forced the SoSete des Meteaux, the
first copper trust, which Mr. Haggin had quite
disagreeabe experiences.
1t is probable too, that such policy would up
against the law If railroad merger is in restraint of
trade, how much is it in restraint of trade to at
tempt to limit the output of the money metals which
the very blood in the arteries of commerce?
AS the resources of the law have thus far proved
adequate TO control for the public interest all other
forms of combinations, and has been found will
ng if able, long defy both natural and statute
law, sthe people afford wait with patience until
Mr.. Rockefellers plans and purposes fully
disclosed and if they counter to the public welfare
the people and the law will know where to strike him.