The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-05
ROCKEFELLER on TRADE ILLS.


CLEVELAND. o.. Oct. 4.-John d. Rookie
Teller. according to an interview in the
PLAIN Dealer. discusses at length the idea
OF governmental regulation OF private in
dustries. He criticises interference on the
ground that it tends to limit opportunity
snd1 curb initiative. and thereby puts
the brakes on national development"
He also speaks OF the effect abroad OF
attacks upon the men at the head
of large industries in this country. and
in conclusion remarked that he believed
that the recent attempt to get him into
court upon a subpoena was not done to
serve the ends OF justice. but for notoriety.
According to the newspaper report.
Mr.. Rockefeller began by speaking OF his
recent trip abroad, a large part of which
was spent in France. He said:
The French people hate us, and they
will crush us IL they can. They want our
money. They want the patronage of our
tourists. But they hate us. They never
let slip an opportunity to take quick ad-
vantage of our mistakes. Take the attack
we made upon our own packing business.
for instance. IN none of the men in the
beef trade, I never dealt with them, nor
was l ever associated, even indirectly, with
their business or themselves.
But it is safe to assume from the pro-
portions of their industry that they are
sound business men. And il ia safe to as
sumo, too, that no business could nave been
built TO such proportions o. such false
principles or by such unsound methods as
they were charged with.
Il was in Europe when the attack was
made at home upon these men and
their industry, and l could watch the
effect OF it there at close ran &c. Those
fellows abroad snatched at our own
charges against our own business with the
greatest glee. They used them promptly
as ammunition with which to attack Amer
lea and everything American. especially
American manufactured products and trade.
l do not believe there was a line OF Ameri-
oln goods sold abroad that was not injured,
or an American agent doing business abroad
whose work was not hampered by this.
We must sell abroad or do less business.
Reducing the volume of our production
means less work, less wages, less business
transacted at the very least. II ia check
ing our development instead Of furthering
IL. IL II common sense. then, to handicap
our export trade at home, to attack the
good name OF our business for the benefit
of ourlforeign ~rivals2"
In regard TO regulation by the Govern
ment OF large enterpri ses, Mr.. Rockefeller
said: III we limit opportunity, we will
have TO put the brakes on our national
development. Will the individual strive
for success IL he knows the hard won prize
is to be snatched from his fingers at the
last'by his Government? We are still too
young a nation to begin tearing down.
We must build up. build up, build up for
years TO come. The very children in the
schools should be taught the need Of our
development"
while / was in active business" said
Mr.. Rockefeller, in speaking Of the Ohio
subpoena issued for his appearance, Il
used always to respond. But now / am
not in a position to give these inquiring
people the informal ton they want. They
know that "a well as / do. II they merely
wanted information. II is other men whom
they would summon, the men who have
the information they want. They know
that also. So l am reluctantly compelled
TO conclude that il is notoriety they want
rather than information. / yield to no
man in respect for law, but I am unable
to see where the little notoriety an inquis-
itor might get from putting me on the
stand would serve the ends OF justice. So
! avoid the ordeal, with its exhaustion,
when l can, and preserve my strength and
quiet"