The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-12-22
JOHN D, NOT HOPEFUL
Says We Are Prodigal and Ex-
travagant and Are Going
Entirely Too Fast.
SOME ONE MUST PAY PIPER

Abroad, Declares Magnate - Thinks
Weyerhaeuser's Wealth, Like That of
Others, Has Been Ovsrestimated.
Ready to Obey Summons.
New York, Dec. 22.-"It will be sor-
~ day for the country and for all Of us
when our courts are not respected or
! we cannot respect them and our laws
are not upheld. We must have law and
order, and we must have courts to en-
force them.
what else can do but go to court
when summoned?"
John D. Rockefeller changed from his
merriest golfing mood to profound seri-
BUSINESS as he made this answer to the
question, sfWll you go to court when
ever the government desires you to
go7" He said he did not know the
status of any of the pending prosecn-
tions. either of Standard Oil or of him
self, but his intent evidently was to
face the music whenever the show be-
gins.
Daily exercise on the links has made
the oil kings cheeks ruddy and his
step elastic. He looks even better
than when he returned from Europe
Does Not Know Weyerhaeuser.
do you believe you are poor man
beside Frederick Weyerhaeuser, the
lumberman who has been written up as
richer than Rockefeller This ques-
ton amused the oil king very much.
II think, as in other eases, his for
tune has been greatly overestimated,"
Mr.. Rockefeller replied. '4I do not
know Mr.. Weyerhaeuser personally,
but he has always been spoken of as
a man of high honor and integrity"
"But if Mr.. Weyerhaeuser gathered
up billion dollars worth of the nat
uraI resources of the country at a time
when it was not known how vital they
would be to the welfare of the whole
people, do you believe his fortuna is a
menaceY"
Il am not prepared to discuss the
ethics of large fortunes Mr Rookie
Teller replied, "but this much I can tell
you: Great wealth is a great burden, a
great responsibility. 1t invariably
proves to be one of two things either
a great blessing or great curse. We
are only stewards.
Wealthy Men Only Stewards.
"But every man has to give an ac-
counting of his stewardship" contin
ued Mr. Rockefeller seriously, land
those who possess great wealth should
have to show that they are competent
to use it properly should pass an ex-
animation and be judged perhaps by
what they do with their money.
"The American people are prodigal,
and our extravaganza will have to be
paid for by some one,' he said I'VE
ship our gold abroad in our travels,
and most Of those who go squander
their money. We cannot buy toys al
ways Our present pace is one that
cannot be kept up.
1--WE are going entirely toe fast. We
are too prodigal of our money. We do
not keep our money at home. We are
sending too much of our gold abroad.
We are buying foreign novelties and
letting our gold go to Europe. We are
spending too much money. The money
ought to be kept here in the United
States, for just as surely as we send
too much of our gold TO the other
side just so surely will we have to pay
the penalty of our rashness
1.-THE people of the United States are
entirely too prodigal of what they now
have. They are taking advantage of a
prosperity such as has never been ex-
celled in this country. We are not
saving up for the rainy day, for the
time of our need"
Laughs at Story About Income.
The Standard Oil millionaire laughed
when asked IL the statement accred-
tied to Mr. Rogers, but repudiated by
him, that Mr.. Rockefeller's income is
| $60,000,000 a year was accurate.
Surely you don't believe the foolish
stories about my wealth, do you?" he
replied.
He said that exaggerated accounts
Of some mems wealth did much to
create discomfort, but he would not
disabuse the public mind further con-
cerning the $50, 900, 600 year.
Before he went to Pocanticc for his
Christmas golfng Mr. Rockefeller was
asked for sentiment for Christmas.
The steward Of millions thought q
moment and then said:
Good will to all men and gratitude
to Godthaf, I should say, should be
the Christmas sentiment for every
onev