The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-07
OIL KINGS ARE SICK;
SYSTEM IS IN PERIL
Wall Street Men Fear End of
Standard With Passing
of Rockellers.
Seclusion in Guarded Estate
Occasion For Many
Rumors.

the house of Rockefeller? Is the
shadow which now clouds the family
spreading over the Rockefeller master
piece, the Standard Oil company?
These questions are being asked
anxiously by men in Wall street and
other men in Wall street have not
the assurance to answer them in ne
gative. Reports that have become
current in the last week or ten days
reports that came with the earmarks
of a foundation in truth, and which
have not been denied categorically by
any of the Rockefeller spokesman
have raised anxious fears in some in
stances and as anxious hopes In others
that the heads Of the Rockefeller f1nan-
cial dynasty. John D. and William
Rockefeller have lost their grip on
the power that once they welded and
Rapidly are loosening their hold on life
or reason itself.
1t is declared that with John D.
Rockefeller practically a prisoner of
his fears In his siege defended home
at Lakewood, n. j., and William
Rockefeller a prey for an incurable
disease in a foreign health resort, the
fortunes Of the standard Oil company
are being directed alone by H. H. Rog-
ers.
Standard Without Rockefeller Hand.
1t is pointed out that the Rockefel-
lers as direct pilots of the great con-
Germ are no more. as the son of the
great founder Is incapable of succeed
ing his fathers place. In addition it is
declared that Rogers no longer is the
fol-, tfoo 80 hot bo l.,
ing his vitality rapidly, and that the
Standard Oil company no longer has
within the bosom of it's system man
who can engineer aggressive raids
such as in former days have made the
names Of Rockefeller and Standard
Oil words to strike terror to Wall
street. 1t is questioned whether the
system today is more than equal to
the negative task Of holding it's own.
What may happen to it in the near
future cannot be told. Wall street men
see the future as their personal wishes
dictate, and that means that most
of them see the rapidly waning power
of the Standard Oil company as that
power has come to be known and
feared
<fhese are some Of the reports con-
corning the mental and physical con-
dition of John D. Rockefeller which are
declared to have leaked from his
guarded estate down in Jersey and
which have not been denied:
He has become a. nervous wreck
through physical afhiction and sensi-
tiveness to the scoring he and his
methods have received recently from
Init l..
measures to recover his health.
He is afraid every workman or mes
senger that comes upon the estate may
be process server with a subpoena
for some inquiry into oil methods.
He is afraid he will be kidnapped.
He is afraid of his shadow.
He is afraid Of assassination by anar.
chists.
Home Like BeIeagured City.
TO guard against the happening O.
any Of the things he fears he ha.
thrown about his country home all the
precautions that modern science ane
uncounted financial resources afford.
Most peculiar, to the neighbors, a
least, is the placing Of three larg,
search lights on a tower near tn,
house. They are kept going all nigh
and continually sweep the roads b,
which a person might approach tn,
house. Guards are in this watch towe
and heavily armed men are all abou
the place, ready to stop any one VIII,
attempts to approach.
The light swinging gates have beel
taken down and replaced by stron,
barriers Of heavy timber.
AS Is now supposed Mr.. Rockefelle
arrived at his Lakewood home las
February. Up to that time visitor
were permitted to drive in the ground
and riding parties enjoyed gallops owe
the magnificent roads that stretch II
every direction through the great es
tate.
Without any explanation from tn
employees of the place these privilege,
were Withdrawn and the visitors or.
dered away by husky men who carried
long sticks and whose VOCABULARY wa!
limited to one word-"Git!"
Becomes Suddenly Secretive.
Some features of Mr.. Rockefeller.
self-exile are commented on as ex.
tremely odd. For instance, a week agt
maniac, who often done repair worl
at the Rockefeller Residence, entered
the living room Of the house. where
Mr.. Rockefeller was seated near 8
desk with a magazine in his lap.
Il beg your pardon, Mr. Rockefel.
ler," said the man. II was sent II
here"
why, how do you do, Charley p
said the old magnate, recognizing
him at once you're well. arc you p
No pledge Of secrecy was imposed
upon this man, who does work for al
the village. And yet last Sunday {
visitor from Cleveland, who brought 8
personal letter from the men who ar.
ranged the visit Of Clevelanders t.
Forest Hal last summer and the nres
entation to Mr.. Rockefeller Of an ad,
dress of confidence and good wtshe.
was treated as were the inquirers owe,
the telephone today. The letter wa,
received at the residence. To the wait.
ing messenger came the words
There is no answer" and the ma,
from Cleveland went home.
It ~ a matter of knowledge anon.
many who formerly had the privtleg,