The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-01

room table, and one or two magazines
with articles referring TO the master OF
the house, marked In blue pencil. 4
heavy Bible has a place In the corner OF
1 the room
/ The reverie OF the writer upon the utter
simplicity OF the life Of the most widely
discussed man In the world was presently
interrupted by Mr.. Rockefeller.
simple, Substantial Fare Served.
1t is 1 O'Clock, and we are all ready
for lunch, l am 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.
/ maid brought the dishes from the
/ kitchen, and handed them to John, "
who served the meal Mr. Rockefeller
| fingered long over his soup, though he
ate little of it. He nibbled at the al
monds and sailed peanuts, and said OF
them that he had learned OF their nu-
tritiOus qualities from a gentleman In
/ California who ate no meat. and who
/ lived entirely upon vegetables and fruits.
You want me to tell you what I see
| in this country in 1902"
MIR. Rockefeller paused for a minute OF
50. He sat with his hands cIasped in
characteristic attitude, and while John
was heaping the plates with roast veal
/ baked SQUAD. French peas, and laying a
delicious salad at each plate, Mr. Rookie
I Teller began the remarkable statement
the purport Of which Is quoted above
Things used 20 be vory different in this
country" he said later.
The Old system and the New,
Under the old system A joined interest
with b in partnership for mutual benefit
Sometimes those partnerships were agree
able and profitable. but frequently they
did not endure very long
In the old days competition was Sc
we're, and there was much unnecessary
waste Of material and effort.
After a while it became apparent u
those thoughtful business men that tbs
best way 90 accomplish an economic sys-
tenn Of business was to consolidate inter
ests. For years now interests have beer
consolidated, and We have our great cor
porati0us. as "A result.
f'Some times I look back upon the times
i'm Cleveland when ! was starting my
business life remember that my frs
employer in Cleveland used 10 pay 81 a
ION for freightage on ore from the Mar
quette country over the Great Lakes e
Cleveland No one complained about
rates at that time.
But later, when I was associated with
party OF gentlemen who had consol-
dated these interests and We were ship
ping ore over the same route from Mar
quette 10 Cleveland. for IS cents a ton,
was called a wicked monopolist."
Mr.. Rockefeller laughed meTrily at this
term.
Financiers True as steel.
american corporations have done much
good for the people. II is a serious mis-
take 20 attempt to tear them down and
return 70 the old idea, which made bust
ness for all Of us such a hard struggle.
Failures Of newly-established businesses
used 20 be, if my recollection serves me
correctly. between 20 and - per cent
That has been greatly reduced. Failures
are very few these days.
The prosperity that we have been en-
joying is due 20 the strict economy and
wise judgment of our business men.
think that the lower section Of New York
City the financial district holds some Of
the finest men Of the world. As a class,
they are intelligent. well educated men
with fine sense of honor and integrity.
There are exceptions Of course. but I
have found most Of these men as true as
steel
Ny. sometimes lie in bed and think
back of the good men / have been aSsOci-
ated with in my life, and sometimes I am
ashamed that / have not said more in
praise of them. There were sixty Of US in
the beginning but now all but four have
gone 10 the other life. just think Of It,,
only four lefJi
There is Col Hayue who is now sixty
seven years old; II. NJ. Flagler, now
seventy-seven years old. just ten years
older than / am. and my brother William,
who is siNJy-six years cid.
only four of us left" he went on. "and
isn't il strange that our business Is now
being administered by some Of the men
who were ut one time our antagonists in
trade? Yes. they fought US. and fought
us well and now they are running cur
business for u.s. and he chuckled merrily.
Advice 10 Young Men.
why. the Office boys Of the ole days
are now conducting departments Of our
business. They have grown up in it and
they are part Of ii.
1T is one OF the greatest satisfactions Of
my life that have succeeded in surround
ing myself with good men
When, twelve years ago, I left my
business forever. I still had other inter
ests TO occupy my time. These other in
terests have something 10 do with the
general good Of my countrymen. And
my days are all too short to attend TO
these matters
My advice to young man at the open
ing OF this new year is TO go straight
ahead and do the best you can to make
q business for yourself. and keep happy
and comfortable those who depend upon
you. II YOU make mistakes remember that
it is human 10 err, but try again, and try
harder
Above all things, be honest with your
self and with those with whom you deal
II you fail at the end you viii at least
have a clear conscience, and a clear con-
science is a greater comfort and worth
more than a fortune gained by dishonor-