The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-08-12
Rockefeller Wanted to Retire,
Rogers Said No
STILLMAN, TOO, NERVOUS
He Also Thought 1t Would Be Wise to
Convert His Private Fortune into
Liquid Assets, but Again Rogers
Courage Called Halt.

New York, Aug l2.- The iron hand OF
the law is closing about that greatest
OF all money making machines, the Stan
dard Oil company, which for three dec
AIDES and half made ridiculous federal
and state statutes while the men who
created and directed it piled up fortunes
50 colossal as TO be almost beyond hui
man comprehension.
The Standard Oil company is now
face to face with fight for its life.
The law, which for thirty-iive years
was harmless shuttlecock in their own
hands, has turned against them serious
! ly, powerfully, relentlessly, In a dozen
different directions its machinery has
been set in motion, and the grinding
process promises to 60 on for many
mouths, perhaps for many years. The
law, the thing that was so absurd and
ridiculous for thirty-fve years, has be-
come real monster in the eyes of the
men who had made of it plaything.
They are not only worried and anxious.
but alarmed and in a state of demorali-
cation bordering upon semi panic.
Rockefeller Saw the Handwriting.
The gift OF foresight which John ID.
Rockefeller possesses to a degree almost
unoanny, and which was no important
factor in the upbilding Of his huge for
tune and his great corporation, warned
him last winter that it was time to
do something drastic to avert catas-
trophe.
II takes long time for the outer
world to learn anything of what actually
happens at the councils Of the small
group of men who are the Standard Oil
company, but The World is in a position
to state that six months ago Mr. Rookie
Teller seriously prepared to really and
genuinely divest himself of every share
he owns Of the STANDARD Oil company's
capital stock
OF its $4,000 shares he personally
owns 10000, with par value Of s27,
| 100000 and market value of $780,
100000. How the ownership Of block
of securities so valuable could be trans
ferred and the money raised to pay for
them were matters that were never
worked out.
Henry II. Rogers opposed the plan Of
Mr.. Rockefeller, fatty, determinedly and
effectively. With all the energy Of his
foreeful intellect, he made the head of
the Standard Oil company change his
plan and stick to the ship. What he
said or what arguments, persuasive or
otherwise, he employed were not within
the ken Of The Worlds informant,
This was not the only indication of
decentralization within the supposedly adj
amant inner circle Of the STANDARD oil
company.
James Stillman, president of the Ma
tional City bank, the Standard Oil bank,
the greatest and most powerful banking
institution in the United States, became
afflicted with the same fright which
shook the nerve of Mr. Rockefeller.
Mr. Stillman has wonderful courage
and nerve in carrying out daring finan-
eial enterprises, but In all other matters
he is regarded as exceptionally timid by
those who know him intimately.
Like Mr., Rockefeller. but several
months after that gentleman had his
fright attack and cure at the hands Of
Mr.. Rogers, Mr.. Stillman became pos
sessed OF the most pessimistic forebod-
ings He thought the time had come for
him to convert the bulk Of his private
wealth into liquid assets, cash pre-
ierred, and arrange his affairs along lines
which permit Of speedy retirement
from all active business cares.
Again the. dominant courage Of II. II.
Rogers came to the rescue Of the falter-
ing STANDARD oil fnancier and nerved
him up to the task Of remaining in
harness and putting up good, still
fight.
II is a fact hitherto known to only
few that notwithstanding the close
intimacy which has existed for a genera
tion between John D. Rockefeller and II.
H. Rogers, there has never been any close
personal friendship in the ordinary
meaning Of the word.