New-York tribune., 1908-09-24
ROCK EFELLER WRITER
Discusses Standard Oil Com panys s
Career in Magazine Artcle.

John d. Rockefeller appears for the first time
a writer in a series of articles on Some Random
"reminiscences OF Men and Events" the first Of
which will appear Friday in the October issue OF
The Worlds Work
Mr. Rockefeller says at the outset that rainy
morning when golf is wanting. II tempted to
become garruous old man. and tell some stories
of men and things which have happened in an ae-
tive life" He refers to the extent TO which he has
been associated with interesting people. especially
in the business world. and continues
If one talks about ones experience there is
natural temntstion 10 charge one with travelling
the easy road 10 egotisn il keeps silent. the
diffcuit to meet. as it would then be said that
there is valid defence to be offered .,,,-.
II has not been my custom to press my aIIalTs
forward into public gaze but l have come s to see
of things which might shed 1gnt on naJrerS sTt sa
have been somewhat discussed II Is Tight snaI
way go over again some OF the events wnlcn nave
made life interesting TO me -. ,o.- ..,d are
true, then dozens Of able and faithful M men ,Sn1 %go
have passed awav' must have been guilty Of grave
faults For myself had decided 10 say M ho,IIis s
hoping that after my death the truth would gIad a.
ualy to the surface and posterity wogsd do
strict justice, but while live and can iest[y 20 70
certain things IL seems fair that should [isa sI
some points which hope will help TO SCI I't Io5Ih
1 am convinced that they have not oeen Iuis
It has been said that I forced the men who be
my partners in the oil business 70 ION WIFE
me I would not have been so snorss1gseq st{cs ask
would it have been possible TO make Of such men
been out of Business and in eight or ten
have only gone TO the company's office
Mr. Rockefeller speaks of-the development OF
the Standard OIL Company and says that tne
plan of selling direct TO the consumer and the
exceptionally rapid growth Of the business bred
certain antagonism which I suppose could not
have been avoided" OF the direct selling to the
consumer, he says:
This was done in fair spirit and with due
consideration for every ones rights We dld not
ruthlessly go after the trade Of our competitors @
and attempt to ruin it BY cutting prices or ms ~
the eom1a9v ni we're overzeaious in going after
sales they acted in violation of the expressed ana
known wishes of the company
Mr. Rockefeller says that in the early days the
oil industry was considered a most hazardous
undertaking. not altogether unlike speculative
mining undertakings. None OF US" he says.
ever dreamed of the magnitude of what proved
to be the later expansion" Further on he says;
Another thing to be remembered about the so
introduced into the capital perhaps We felt that
oil and water would not have mixed nor lo IN aI1
which the STANDARD owed II is a common thing
o2 m only S the could
make such assertion. 1t has and always mas
com Competitors % The Standard has not now, and
never did haT ave a royal % road 40 b tn the nl
tude of able men who working together
| On the subject Of the modern corporation the
article says:
Beyond question there a suspicion of corpora
| tions. There may be reason for such Suspicion
very often for corporation may De moral or I'M
moral Just may be moral or the reverse,
but IL is folly condemn all corporations because
some bad, TO be unduiy suspicious OF
| all, because some bad. But the corporation
in form and character has come to stay-that Is
thing that may he depended upon
It is late to argue about advantages Of IN
dustriaI combinations. They a necessity And
II Americans have the privilege of extend
and into foreign countries well. they are a
necessity large scale, and require the agency
of more than corporation.
If I were suggest any legislation regarding in
dustriaI combinations IL would be: First-FederaI
legislation under which corporations may be Gre
ated and regulated. If that be possible. Second
in lieu thereof, state legislation as nearly UNIFORM
as possible, encouraging combinations OF persons
and capital for the purpose Of carrying on indus
tries but sufficient to prevent frauds upon the
public
The great business interests will, hope, COM
port themselves foreign capital will consider
It desirable thing to hold shares in American
companies 1t is for Americans 10 see that foreign
investors are well and honestly treated, 50 that
they will never regret purchases Of our securities
I may speak thus frankly, because am an in
vestor in many American enterprises, but con
troller OF with one exception and tnat a
company which has not been much of dividend
payer. and l. like all the rest, am dependent upon
the honest and capable administration of the in
dustries firmly and sincerely believe that they
will be managed.