The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-09-28

eHMs: Six Months 50 cents
social environments encouraging these
pursuits, it is but natural for live, ac-
tive, and enterprising man to boldly
enter into the commercial arena
against all competitors, and by his
superior skill and sagacity secure to
himself as much wealth as possible.
The public not only acquiesce, but al
most invariably applaud the successful
participants in these financial games
and accord praise and honor to them in
proportion to their spots. It being an
innate desire for man to make money,
and this natural desire encouraged by
his education and surroundings, and
approved of by his friends aud asso-
ciates, is it just to him or honorable to
ourselves to vilify his name and
asperse his character merely because
he has achieved greater success than
we thought possible?
There is before the public today q
very conspicuous figure, in the person
of John D. Rockefeller, whose charac-
ter and integrity are being unmerci-
fully assailed; whose business methods
are being denounced in no uncertain
are being exploited to public gaze and
scornfully sneered at; and, whose gold
en- shekels are declared to be so much
tainted that an offer of gift of part
of them, to a certain church, has been
declined in not very gracious manner.
In all candor, is this man and his mo-
tives being fairly dealt with? In view
of our laws, customs and traditions,
does he merit such reproach and
abuse from his fellow men-yes, and
fellow workmen too;-and ought we
to consider all these vile charges, foul
insinuations and despicable inuendos as
just retribution for his unparalleled
SUCCESS in @opeDs feld4wharo n0s
many of our esteemed and honored
countrymen aretrying to emulate hise ex-
ample? Can we conscientiously claim
that his money is possessed with foul
faint that distinguishes it from all
other money made in the broad field
of commercialism? And, is it right or
reasonable to single out this one man
from among multitude of others
whose aims and ambitions, so far as
can be judged, are similar if not iden-
tical to his, and make him the princi-
pal target for all the shafts and arrows
that ignorance, malice and envy can
invent or suggestp May it not be pos
sible that his methods in business have
been actuated and Influenced by that
most human desire, to win approba-
tion and applause which have ever
been accorded to individual success?
i If his wealth has been accumulated
without violating our national and
state laws and in accordance with the
rules which regulate and govern COM
merce, then his money should be free
from that odious epithet, tainted, and
himself shielded from those specially
harsh and uncharitable criticisms. If,
on the other hand, he has been guilty
of fraud, theft, or other statutory
) offenses, justice demands that he be
given fair trial in the legal manner
prescribed by law.
Such fabulous fortunes made in q
few short years speak very strongly Of
deficiency or incompetency of our
laws and smack perceptibly of favor
itism clauses. After the arraignment
of the man before the bar of public
: sentiment, and verdict rendered of
tainted money, would it not be well to
examine our laws as accessories be-
fore the factp
1t is generally conceded that rail-
: road rebates was the foundation of
> RockefelIer's immense fortune. Let
= us see if this base, upon which such an
i imposing structure has been erected,
was altogether bad and in nowise a
benefit to the public. Granted that
said rebates gave him monopoly OF
the oil trade in certain large cities, al
: together barring competition. Who
:. does this most affectp 1t affects, first
9 Rockefeller himself; second, all other
. competing oil dealers; third, the rail.
9 way companies; and last but not least
= the general public.
g In what way are these different par.
: ties affected? Rockefeller is made
richer. His competitors forced to