Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-29

Oohh ISyuSi udu uOI U0Cu OQulpDGu NY
Nature with conscience. He had no
sense OF right, or wrong, or justice
where his own interests were concern
ed. He was the prince of cyclists. On
the other hand he possessed qualities
which, with some people, count as vir-
tues. 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 giving
Of aims by the members of his family,
which consisted of wife, whose timid
voice was rarely heard and a son
Jefferson, who was the destined sue
cessor to 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 song when the land was
cheap, of some thousand acres along
the line, and 1t 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 in
creased in astonishing fashion, the
road could no longer afford to carry
out The original scheme, and had at
tempted to dispose of the property for
building purposes, including a right of
made public in the newspapers, had
raised storm of protest. The people
in the vicinity claimed that the rail-
road secured the land on the express
condition of park being laid out, and
in order to make a legal test they had
secured an Injunction which had been
sustained by Judge Rossmore of the
United States Circuit Court.
These details were hastily told and
re-told by one clerk to another. and
more directors kept arriving from the
ever-busy elevators. The meeting was
called for three o'clock. Another five
minutes and the chairman would rap
for order. A tall, strongly built man
with white moustache and kindly
smile emerged from the directors room
and, addressing one of the clerks,
asked:
HAS Mr.. Ryder arrived YETI"
The alacrity with which the employe
fastened forward to reply would indi
cate that his interlocutor was a per
son of more than ordinary Importance
"No, Senator, not yet. We expect
him any minute" Then with a defer
entail smile he added: "Mr. Ryder
usually arrives on the stroke SIR
The senator gave nod of acquies.
cence and, turning on his heel, greet
ed with grasp Of the hand and affable
smile his fellow.directors as they pass
ed in by twos and threes.
Senator Roberts was in the world OF
politics what his friend John Burkett
Ryder was in the world Of finance
leader of men. He started life in Wis
consin as an errand boy, was educated
in the public schools, and later be
came clerk in a dry goods store, finally
going into business for his own ac
count on large scale. He was elect
ed to the Legislature. where his ability
as an organizer gained the friendship
of the men in power, and later was
sent to Congress. where he was quick
ly initiated in the game of corrupt
politics. In 1885 he entered the United
States Senate. He soon became the
acknowledged leader of a consider
able majority Of the Republi
can senators, and from then or
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
ito him. He was in politics for all there
was in it, and he saw in his lofty posi-
ton only a splendid opportunity fol
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 formed
a strong friendship with John Burkett
Ryder Each being a master in his
own field was useful to the other
Neither was troubled with qualms Of
conscience, SO they never quarreled
If the Ryder interests needed anything
in the Senate. Roberts and his follow
ers we're there to attend to it. JUS