Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-12
]. D. ROCKEFELLER
A CURIOUS CHARACTER STUDY OF
OIL MAGNATE.
a Study of the WealthieSt Nan IN the
World, by Marcus n. Brown. A
Defense of Standard Oil r1cthOdS
lngeniOuSiy Presented by Author
Brown.

One of the most interesting constribu.
tions to American literature has just
come from the pres1. 1t is entitled "a
Study Of John d. Rockefeller, the
Wealthiest Man in the World.''
The author is Marcus Nj. b own, of
Cleveland, Ohio, who generously gives
to his readers a somewhat leng hy BIZ
ogrtphical sketch of himself, together
with many high sounding tributes paid
to him by gentlemen having the honor
of his acquaintance.
In the "ferword' Mr.. Brown says that
his motives in the preparation of this
book are entirely philanthropic, and are
prompted by the Spontaneous and uni.
versal sentiments Of justice natural to
the human heart" A very laudable
motive, indeed. Having learned that
that was the motive of the author one
reading this publication would naturally
expect to find some serious defense of
the business methods employed by Mr..
Rockefeller. But such search of this
little volume will be made in vain. 1t is,
in fact, largely devoted to a presentation
OF the unquestionaby long list OF contr-
buttons which Mr.. Rockefeller has made
to educational and religious institutions.
In the beginning the author says:
"We shall in this book recite word for
word and letter for letter full paragraphs
from Miss Ida NJ. Tarbell's articles in
McClure's Magazine, by which she tries
to reflect harmful insinuations upon MIR.
Rockefeller"
1t is noticeable, however. that the
"full paragraphs from Miss Tarbells
writings do not relate to the serious and
explicit charges Miss Tarbell has made
against the methods of the Standard Oil
company and the course Mr.. Rockefeller
pursues in the commercial world.
Mr.. Brown sings the same old song.
He quotes from college professor and
from other Rockefeller champions arti.
cles, the tendency of which is to justify
the Standard Oil Trust and its methods.
And then he surrounds these with some
OF the most extravagant tributes to the
generosity" OF the subject OF his sketch,
pointing to the large sums he has con.
tributed to schools and churches and to
unknown beneficiaries as justification
for the unholy methods through which
he has acquired bis wealth. His defense
} is far from successful, but it is entirely
characteristic of Rookie feller literature.
While as a justification for Mr.. Rookie.
feller's business methods Mr.. Browns
production is failure, it is nevertheless
interesting, and should be read by every
one who desires to obtain the estimate
which the average Rockefeller champion
places upon the popular intelligence. In
the beginning. referring to Mr.. Rookie
Teller, Mr.. Brown says:
"With his name left out, the history
of education and religion could not be
| written"
So characteristic of Rockefeller litera.
ture are the statements OF this particular
article that comment will be unneces.
sary. These statements speak for them
selves and they deserve wide publicity
because there are some people who yet
imagine that when Coal Baron Baer pro.
claimed himself and his fellow -monopo.
lists to be 1.-The trustees of God" they
did not expect the people to give weight
to the claim.
Then in conclusion we are told by
Author Brown that ohm D. Rockefeller is
lone of our intellectual heroes )" that "as
long as civilization exist he will he re.
membered, admired and honored," that
elf to love others more thansone's self is
goodness, John d. Rockefeller is good y
that "if to live in advance of ones time,
to be the first upon the ground in the
direction OF progress, is greatness, John
d. Rockefeller is great that "if to fol-
low ones faith and do ones duty in the
presence of threating death is heroic,
John d. Rockefeller is hero"
In one chapter, Author Brown tells
us that Mr.. Rockefeller "holds it to be
his duty to be the most wholesome ex.
ample possible;" and in order to prove
this point Mr.. Brown says "in the dis
charge of duty OF this kind | have
known him to sit upon platform on a
public occasion of the Chicago Univer.
versity until he was overcome by fatigue
and the heat, and had to be assisted to
his lodgings" A very fine instance, in.
deed, OF self sacrifice on Mr.. Bockefeller's
part! The American people could wish
that he would "hold it to be his duty to
be the most wholesome example pos.
sible" to such an extent that he would