The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-19
OIL KING DON'T LIKE
ASSAULTS ON WEALTH
Rockefeller Says Shrinkage In
Stock Values is Due to Too
Much Meddling
Roosevelts Attack on Wealth,
He Says, Will Bring Ruin
All to Suffer.

All to Suffer.
New York, Jan. lin an inter-
view granted to M. E. Pew Of the
Newspaper Enterprise Association,
John D. Rockefeller spoke as follows:
In making inventories for the year
just ended great many business men
in this country will find that they
have suffered a loss amounting to
millions Of dollars through shrinkage
in the value Of their shareholdings dur
ing the twelve months just passed.
This is in the face Of our great
prosperity. the greatest era Of pros
perity in the history Of our country.
The Poor Stakeholder.
why should stock values be low
er today than they were a year ago?
I can only account for it by the at
tacks that have been made upon cor
porate interests during the last year
or two years-unwarranted attacks
that go to tear down the structures
that have been reared by our people
through great effort, energy and
patience.
The effect of these attacks was, Of
course, first felt by capitalists, and
then, through them, the effect was felt
by the debtor classes.
1.-THE debtor classes are feeling the
effect more than ever now.
who will be the next to suffer?
Why, the man with the dinner pail
the workingman, whose wages are
now higher than ever before in our
history; 20 per cent. higher, believe
the statistics say, than they were five
or six years ago.
Tho Poor Debtor Class.
when stock values are deprecated,
as at present, capitalists naturally be-
gin to take in their loans, dispose Of
their collateral and then the debtor
classes feel the depression. When the
debtor classes feel the depression they
retrench. and then it is the working
mans turn to suffer. believe that
January inventories will be a surprise
to many people.
you have asked me for my opinion
Of the business prospect for the forth
coming year. I haYe never, done much
have, never consider
ed THAT pr,affta
better not begin now. ** =. - - g
Il will say, though, that I have great
faith: in the American people, I have
great faith In the honesty and integri-
ty Of our business men. The great
majority are good, honest, hard work.
ing and enterprising men. I have
great faith In their judgment.
No Joy This Year.
1T has always been pleasant to
look forward to a new year. in which
prosperity, success and blessings may
be continued and increased. sincere
ly hope that this country Of ours will
realize full share in 1907 and in the
years that are to come"
These are the words of John D..
Rockefeller. Coming at the opening
Of the new year, at a time when the
whole world looks upon America for
her greatest measure Of success in
commerce and trade; coming at time
when the whole strength Of the admin
istration at Washington is supposed
to be directed against Mr.. Rockefel-
ler's gigantic oil trust, and when state
governments seek to disrupt the man.
moth monopoly, it Is perhaps the most
extraordinary public statement ever
made by the founder Of the Standard
Oil Company.
Playing Golf with Priest.
It was just noon when the Interview
err arrived at the magnificent Rookie
Teller estate at Pocantico, two miles
over the Blue Hills, from Dreamy Tar
rytown. The workers, most Of them
Italians, were at lunch In their lodges
Mr.. Rockefeller was playing golf
with a party Of friends.
Mr.. Rockefeller was paired with
Father Patrick Lannen, a handsome,
young Catholic priest Of the larry
town parish, Of whom the millionaire
said he was very fond and praised
highly for excellent work in the COM
munity. and for his intelligence.
Really do not remember of hav-
ing felt any better in my whole life
than I do today" he said.
Goods Blessings"
Gods great blessings, pure air and
bright sunshine, are all about us, and
certainly we have much to be thank
full for, have we not?'
The Rockefeller lodge is a COMPARE
lively small and plain frame struc-
ture, almost entirely surrounded by a
glass-inclosed sun parlor. There is
absolutely nothing about this house to
indicate the enormous wealth Of it's
possessor.
The inexpensive light colored wall
paper in the large reception room and
the living room was relieved by a few
etchings and prints. There were no
paintings. There were a few books.
religious or standard novels, on the
sitting room table, and one or two
magazines, with articles referring to
the master of the house, marked in
blue pencil.
A heavy Bible has place in the
corner Of the room.
1T Is o'clock and we are ready for
lunch, I'm sure" he said, and led the
way to a pretty dining room, where
covers were laid for four on a square
dining table, amply heaped with fruit,
nuts and sweets.