Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-24

be still more anxious to keep out or Ine
way. He doubtless knows many things
that he does not want to talk about in
open court But the state of Missouri
can probably wait as long as he. 1t
Will not be exactly convenient for John
D. to remain in hiding during the rest
Of his natural life, and sooner or Later
some bright young process server Is
liable to nab him. Then q Standard
Oil chapter is liable to be written that
will be still more interesting than
those already put in print by Ida M.
Tarbell. The country will await that
event with keen and pleasurable antic
ipations. Mr.. Rockefeller has proved
that he is very smooth and adroit
gentleman, but the arm of the law is
long and he cannot escape it indef-
nitely. Meanwhile his lodging of le-
gal summons, however cute it may
be, does not place him in exactly an
enviable light. People are apt to con-
clude that when a man makes such
strenuous efforts to keep from being a
witness there is some reason for wish
ing to conceal himself and his knowl-
edge. That sort of action when done
by poorer people is usually character
lied by very uncomplimentary terms.
Even "cuteness" may overreach it
self. Uncle Sam is getting more and
| more in earnest about some matters,
and persistent lodging of the courts
and refusal to testify are liable to add
| to that earnestneSs. John Dawson
Rockefeller may be the richest man on
earth, but he Is still an American citi-
zen and is subject to the laws of the
land. 1t might not be a bad idea for
some friend to advise MIN to come into
| the reservation.
BIr. Rockefeller has four homes
one in New York city, one in the Po-
| cantico hills, near Tarrytown, n. Y;
| one at Lakewood, n. j., and one at
Cleveland, o. man with as many
| domiciles as that and with telegraph
and spy system reaching over the en-
| tire country has certain advantages IN
| skipping out of the way of court Of
ficers, but he cannot thus evade public
| opinion, and that, after all. is the SUI
preme arbiter In this country. 1t is
very pervaSive and ever active. Ii
| may be lulled by gifts to educational
| institutions and charities, but it Is
| ready to spring up again at moments
| notice The king of the Standard
| should not forget the Importance of
| public opinion.
Carefully Guarded From Strangers.
| Despite the fact that he has houses
| and lands scattered about promiscu-
ously this Plutus of petroleum lives
| very simply. Society knows him not.
His only recreations are golf and pray
| er meeting. At Pocantico, where he
4 \
officers, he potters around his estates
like any old fellow, sees that his en-
| ployees are well housed and cared for,
| talks to the children and seems very
much like human being. He is called
| by his neighbors the old gentleman"
| while John D., Jr., is referred to as
1.-THE young fellow" 1t is worthy of
note that 1.-The old gentleman" is the
| more popular of the two. He rides
| about his immense estates. generally
| standing on the step of his buggy, Civ
| ing an order here and there and keep
| Ing a close watch on all that is going
| forward. While democratic with those
| he meets, the oil magnate is very care
| fully guarded from the intrusion of
| strangers. They might have bombs
concealed about their persons or, worse
still, subpoenas. One day stranger
managed to get by the guards. John
D.. who was playing golf with a
friend, saw him first and broke for
| cover. The stranger followed at
good clip, holding out a package.
Rockefeller proved a swift sprinter for
| one of his years and finally succeeded
In concealing himself. A guard caught
| the stranger, who proved to have mel
/, Their an internal machine nor a court
summons, but only a harmless bottle
| of hair reStorer.
| Mr.. Rockefeller can tell a story on
occasion and is not without an appreci-
| alton of humor. He Is fond of asking
his friends how long a mans legs
should be, and if they cannot answer
| the conundrum he tells them gleefully,
Long enough to reach from his body
| to the ground" The fact that Lincoln
originated that saying does not seem
| to detract from the oil kings enjoy
| ment in repeating it.
| "Heayiest Hole | Have Ever Known"
The president of the Standard Oil is
| fond of telling about the heaviest hole
he ever heard of. 1t appears that in an
| earlier day he ordered from foundry
| some castings. one solid and one with
| hole. The bill was rendered for two
solid castings. Mr.. Rockefeller called
attention to this and received the fol-
lowing credit:
| ~. ID. Rockefeller, Cr., by 1 hole,
| weight 432 pounds, $3.50"
THAT" chuckAed John D., was the
| heaviest hole have ever known"
There is another and an earlier story
that shows another phase of Rockefel-