The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-10-30
HOW STANDARD OIL KING
CAME TIL KNOW HIS
RIGHT HAND MAN
Tribute to the Lasting Quality Of
Vice Presidents "Splendid
Power Over Men"


The second chapter of John D..
Rockefellers "reminiscences, which is
to appear in The November issue Of
the Worlds Work under the title
Some Old Friends. contains, besides
an exposition of Mr. Rocketellers ear
ly associations with H. NJ Flagler
Shllman Witt, and S. " Hardness, a
Characterization Of John d. Archbold
Vice President Of the Standard Oil
Company particularly interesting just
now in the light OF Mr.. Archbolds
prominence in the exposures of this
campaign Mr. Rockefeller speaks
with admiration of Archbold's power
over men,
1T is not always possible to remem
Der how one met an old friend, but ]
shall never forget my first meeting
with John D. Archbold, he writes
He then relates how, some thirty
five or forty years ago, when travelling
about visiting the various points of
importance to the oil industry, and
getting acquainted with the prominent
men In it, he came one day 70 a hotel
whore q number of oil men had gath
cred, not far from the oil regions, and
saw, written boldly on the hotel regis
ter, John D. Archbold, 81 a Bbl.'
He was a young and enthusiastic
fellow" says Mr. Rockefeller, so full
of his subject that he added to his slo-
gan after his signature"
nnaIgfo11afs aorre tNot The ia
acteristic incident was the more not
able then since crude Oil was selling
at a far lower figure than "a a barrel
and that Mr.. Archbold had finally to
give In and sell at the lower rate, but
that. nevertheless, mis- enthusiasm,
energy, and splendid power over men
has lasted
Mr. Rockefeller goes on to speak Of
Mr. Archbold's sense of humor. He
tells how once on the witness stand
be was asked by the counsel for the
other side, who had ascertained that
he was a Director of the company
What is your occupation in this com
pany, Mr.. Archbold?"
He promptly answered, ITO clamor
for dividends"
81 can never cease to wonder at his
capacity for hard work says Mr.
Rockefeller
From Mr.. Archbold he turns to Mr.
Flagler, saying: "The part played by
II. NJ. Flagler was always an inspira-
tion TO me. He invariably wanted TO
80 ahead and accomplish great pro
ieCts of all kinds He was always on
the active side Of every question. and
to- his wonderful energy is due much
of The rapid progress of the company
IN the early days
MT Rockefeller speaks of him as a
bright and active young fellow full
of vim and push, and describes how
he built mp the east coast of Florida
by constructing railroads and chains
of hotels He describes Mr. Flagler's
early career, how he hit ON him as a
possible partner when the oil business
expanded so that more help was need
! ed and how this partnership develop
| ed into Intimacy. He says
"lt was q friendship founded on
business. which Mr. Flagler used to
say was q good deal better than a
! business founded ON friendship. Ny
experience leads me TO agree with
him."
Mr. Rockefeller goes on to describe
! iu am interesting way his social and
| business relations with Mr.. Flagler
swing several amusing anecdotes He
/ then gives his views on friendship
saying: Above all other possessions
| is he value of a friend in every de
/ partmont of life without any exception
/ whatsoever
Hc says AN OF the many kinds and
! degrees OF friendship are valuable
| but gives as an example Of one kind
the man who refuses help when you
most need il, giving an apt reason
why just then he can do nothing.
I'D like TO oblige you, he says
but can't explain why at this mo
uent, aud so on.
AS the opposite OF this sort Of
friend Mr.. Rockefeller tells how
when he once went 10 S. V. Hardness
TO get money for the furtherance OF @
certain plan. Mr. Hardness instantly
said
An right j. D., I'll give You all I've
got
OF himself IN this connection Mr.
Rockefeller says: 81 was always O
great borrower in my early days
AS an illustration OF his statue as
borrower he tells how at Directors
meeting there arose the question OF
what should be done IN case more
money was wanted Sullman Witt
one of the Directors said:
Here. gentlemen. these young mer
are all o. X. and il they want to Dor
row more money ! want 10 see this
/ h,ul advance a. y" Mr. Witt offered