The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-11
! I.
IN THOSE DAYS AROSE KINGS.


Imagine yourself back two years and
n half before Wild Week. back at the
time when the kings of finance had
just completed their apparently final
conquest ~ the Industries OF the coun-
try, when they were seating themselves
upon thrones cncircicd by vast armies
OF capital and brains, when all the gov
ernmcnts OF the na;ion--national. state
and c!ty-were PROSTATE under their
iron heels.
You may remember that I was n not
inconspicuous figure then. or all their
financial agents. ! was the best known.
the most trusted by them. the most
believed la by the people. had n mag
nlflcent suite OF offices In the building
that dominates Wall and Broad streets.
Boston claimed me also, and Chicago:
and In Philadelphia. New Orleans, ST.
Louis, san Francisco. In the towns and
rural districts tributary to the cities,
thousands spoke OF Blackjack rs their
trusted adviser In matters Of finance.
Ny enemicS-and I had them. numcr-
Gus and vcnomous enough 20 prove
me n man worth while--my enemies
spoke OF me MS the biggest bucket
shop gambler In the world"
Gambler was-iilc all the other ma =
nipt lators OF the markets. But bucket
shop" l never kept. AZ the kings OF
finance were the representatives OF the
great merchants. manufacturers and
investors. 80 was ! the representative
OF the masses. OF those who wished
their small savings properly invested.
founded upon wealth and the brains
wealth buys or DULLES or seduces Into
It's service: my power was founded
upon the hearts and homes OF the pco-
pie. upon faith In my frank honesty.
How had j built UP my power? BY
reeogpizing the possibilities OF public
ity. the chance which the broadcast
soUing OF newspapers and magazines
put within the reach OF the individual
man To Impress himself upon the whole
country. upon the whole civilized world.
The kings OF finance relied upon the
assiduity and dextcrity OF sundry paid
agents. operating through the stcalthy.
clumsy. old fashioned channels for the
exercise of power. I relied only upon
fnysclf. i had To trust to no fallible,
perhaps trliitorous, understrappcrs.
through the mcgaphone OF the press I
spoke directly to the people.
My enemies charge that I always
have been INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest.
SO? Then how have lived and thrived
all these years In the glare and blnre
OF publicity
IL is true have used the methods
Of the charlainn" In bringing myself
into wide public notice. The just way
To- put II would be that ] have used FOR
honest purposes the methods OF pub
liciiy that CharlntJns have shrewdly
appropriated, because 10y those means
the public can bc most widely and most
quickly reached. Does good become
evil because hypocri,cs use II ms n
cloak IL Is also true that have been
''uniignlncd" Let the stupid cover
their stupidity with dignity" Let the
Rvludi~r hide his Screenings under
dignity" l am n man OF the people,
not afraid tn be seen as the human be-
Ing that I am. / laugh when I feel like
H.. ! have no sense OF jar when people
call me Matt" | have n good time.
and l shall stay young as long as
stay alive. Wealth hasn't made me a
solemn ass, fenced In and unapproach-
able. The custom OF receiving obcdl-
cncc and flattery aud admiration has
not made me a turkey-cock. Life Is a
Joke: and when the jokes on me,
laugh as heartily as when It's on the
other fellow.
1t Is half past three o'clock on May
afternoon: a dismal. drcary rain is be-
Ing whlrled through the streets by as
nasty wind as ever blew out of the
cnsi. You are In the private Office of
that king OF kings." Henry j. Roe
buck. philanthropist. eminent church.
man. leading citizen and--in business
as corrupt a creature as ever used the
domino OF rcspcctRbility. That Office is
on the twelfth floor of the Power Trust
buiidiug-und the Power Trust Ia Roe
buck. and Rocbuck In the Power Trust.
He Is seated 1T his desk and. thinking