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

was now a rich man, richer by many
millions than he had dreamed he could
ever be, but still he was unsatistied.
He became money mad. He wanted
to be richer still, to be the richest man
in the world, the richest man the world
had ever known. And the richer he got
the stronger the idea grew upon him
with all the force of morbid Obses-
sion.
Yet this commercial pirate, this Ma
poleOn of finance, was not a wholly
bad man. He had his redeeming quail
ties. like most bad men. His most pro
nounced weakness, and the one that
had made him the most conspicuous
man of his time, was an entire lack of
moral principle. No honest or honor
able man could have amassed such stu
pendous wealth. In other words, John
Ryder had not been equipped by ma
ture with a conscience. lie had no
sense of right or wrong or justice
where his own interests were concern
ed. He was the prince of egOists. On
the other hand, he possessed qualities
which, with some people. count as
virtues He was pious and regular in
his attendance at church, and, while he
had done but little for charity, he
was Known to have encouraged the Civ
ing of aims by members of his family,
which consisted of a wife, whose timid
voice was rarely heard and a son JEFF
ferson. who was the destined successor
of his gigantic estate.
Such was the man who was the real
power behind the Southern and Trans
continental railroad. More than any
one else Ryder had been aroused by
the present legal action, not so much
for the money interest at stake as that
any one should dare to thwart his will.
1t had been pet scheme of his, this
purchase for "a song when the land was
cheap Of some thousand acres along the
line, and it is true that at the time of
the purchase there had been some idea
of laying the land out as a park, but
real estate values had increased in as
tonishing fashion, the road could no
longer afford to carry out the original
scheme and had attempted to dispose
of the property for building purposes,
including right of way for a branch
road. The news, made public in the
newspapers. had raised storm Of pro
test. The people in the vicinity claim,
ed that the railroad secured the land
on the express condition Of a park be-
ing laid out. and in order to make
legal test they had secured an injunc
ton, which had been sustained by
Judge ROssmore Of the United States
circuit court.
These details were hastily told and
retOld by one clerk to another as the
babel of voices In the inner room grew
louder AMI more directors kept arriv-
ing from the ever busy elevators. The
was called for o'clock. An
other five minutes and the chairman
would rap for order. A tall. strongly
built man with white mustache and
kindly smile emerged from the direc-
tors room and. addressing one of the
clerks. asked:
Has Mr.. Ryder arrived YETI
The alacrity with which the en-
Dloyce FASTENED forward to reply would
Indicate that his interlocutor was
person of more than ordinary impor-
lance.
NO, senator, not yet. We expect
him any minute" Then with defer
entail smile he added. MIR. Ryder usu-
.Il,. e., rt.it-a. 81, tho 81 81
The senator gave nod of acquies-
,ence and. turning on his heel, greeted
with "A grasp of the hand and affable
smile his fellow directors as they pass
ri i'm by twOs and threes.
Senator Roberts was i'm the world Of
politics what his friend John Burkett
Ryder was i'm the world of finances
.eade of men. lie started life in Wis
,Onsln as an errand boy. was educated
IN the public schools and later became
clerk in a dry goods store, finally go
ing into business for his own account
On a large scale. He was elected to
The legislature, where his ability as an
organizer soon gained the friendship
Of the men I'm power, and later was
sent to congress, where he was quickly
Initiated in the game of corrupt poll
tics. In 1885 he entered the United
States senate. He soon became the
leader Of a considerable
of the Republican senators,
and from then on he was a figure to
be reckoned with. A very ambitious
man, with a great love of power and
few scruples, it is little wonder that
only the practical or dishonest side of
politics appealed to him. He was in
politics for all there was in it, and he
saw in his lofty position only a splen-
did opportunity for easy graft.
He did not hesitate to make such
alliances with corporate interests seek
ing influence at Washington as would
enable him TO accomplish this purpose,
and in this way he had met and form
ed a strong friendship with John Bur
kett Ryder Each, being master in
his own field, was useful to the other.
Neither was troubled with qualms Of
conscience so they never Quarreled. IL