The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-06-19

~ HERE was unWOuleu DuSLle IN
the usually sleepy and digni-
fed New York offices of the
Southern and TranscOntinent-
al Railroad company in lower Broad
way.
1t was the regular quarterly meet
ing OF the directors Of the Southern
and TraascOntinental Railroad cOmpa-
ny, but 1t was something more than
mere routine that had called out
quorum OF such strength and which
made today's gathering one of extraOr-
binary importance in the history of
the road. That the business on hand
was Of the greatest significance was
easily TO he inferred from the con
cerned and anxious expression on the
directors faces and the eagerness Of
the employees as they piled each other
with questions.
Suppose the injunction is sustain
edf" asked a clerk in a whisper. "Is
not the road rich enough to bear the
loss?"
The man he addressed turned impa-
tently to the queStioncr.
ing. Don't you understand that this
suit we have lost will be the entering
wedge for hundreds Of others? The
very existence Of the road may be at
stake. And between you and me- he
added ia lower key, with Judge
Rossmore on the bench we never stood
much show. It's Judge RosSmOre that
scareS 'em, not the injunction. They've
found it easy TO corrupt most OF the
supreme court judges. but Judge Ross
more is one too many for them. You
could M more bride him than you
Coull have bribcd Abraham Lincoln"
But the newspapers say that he.
too. has been caught accepting $4,000
worth az stock for that decision he
rendered in the Great Northwestern
case"
Lies, All those stories are lies"
replied Tine other cmphatically. Then
looking cautiously around to make
sure 300 on" overheard. he added con
tcmpuou.ly. "The biz interests fear
him. AMI they're nyenting these lies
90 try and injurc him. They might rs
well Try 20 blow up Gibraltar. The
fact is the public is seriously aroused
this Ime aud the railroads are in a
panic"
10 was true. The railroad, which
heretofore had considered itself supe-
rior 10 law. had found itself checked in
its career Of outlawry and oppression.
The railroad. this modern octopus OF
steam and steel which stretches its
greedy tcntaclcs out over the land, had
at last been brought to book.
John Burkett Ryder the richest man
IN the world-the man whose name had
spread 10 the farthest corners Of the
earth because OF his wealth, and whose
money. instead Of being blessing,
promised to become not only a curse
to himself but source OF dire peril
TO all manklnd-was a genius born of
the railroad age No other age could
have brought him forth. His peculiar
talents fitted exactly the conditions Of
his time Attracted early I'm life to
the newly discovered oil fields Of Penn
sylvania, he became a dealer in the
raw product and later a refner, ac-
curing with capital, laborlously saved,
first one refinery, then another. The
railroads were cutting each others
threats to secure the freight business
of the oil men, and John Burkett Ry-
der saw his opportunity. He made
secret overtures to the road, guaran-
teeing a vast amount Of business if he
could get exceptionally low rates, and
the Illegal compact was made. His
competitors, undersold in the market,
stood no chance, and one by one they
were crushed out Of existence. Ryder
called these maneuvers business" The
world called them brigandage. But the
Colossus prospered and slowly built up
the foundations Of the extraordinary
fortune which is the talk and the won
der of the world today Master now
of the oil situation, Ryder succeeded
In his ambition Of organizing the En-
pire Trading company, the most pow
erful, the most secretive and the most
wealthy business institution the com
mercial world has yet known.