Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-10-31


New Yorlk-"I know of nothing more
despicable and pathetic than man
who devotes all the waking hours Of
the day to making money for moneys
sake. If | were 40 years younger |
should like to go into business again;
for the association with interesting
and quick-minded men was always a
great pleasure; but | have no dearth
of interests to fill my days, and so
long as l live expect to go on and
develop the plans which have been
my inspiration for a lifetime"
In his second instalment of Ran
dom "reminiscences of Men and
Events" which is appearing in the
Worlds Work, John d. Rockefeller
lets his pen run for him down the
long years to the beginning of associ-
ations and partnerships which meant
so much for the head of the Standard
Oil company. He frankly admits that
his Judgment in selecting his business
friends had a great deal to do with his
success in building up the greatest
fortune in America.
'It is not always possible to re-
member just how one first met an old
friend, or what tone's impressions were:
but / shall never forget my first meet
ing with John D. Archbold, who is
now a vice-president of the Standard
Oil company" he writes.
"One day there was a gathering of
men somewhere near the oil regions,
and when l came to the hotel, which
was full of oil men, | saw this name
written large on the register: John d.
Archbold, $4 bbl' He was young
and enthusiastic fellow, so full of his
subject that he added his slogan, "a
a bbl., after his signature on the reg
lister that no one might misunderstood
his convictions"
Speaking of Mr. Archbolds alert
ness of mind Mr.. Rockefeller says:
"He has always had a welNdevel
oped sense of humor, and on one SER
ious occasion, when he was on the
witness stand, he was asked by the
opposing lawyer, Mr.. Archbold, are
you a director of this company% 4
am
What is your occupation in this
company?
ITO clamor for dividends
Speaking of Mr.. Archbold leads
me to say again that l have received
much more credit than l deserve in
connection with the Standard Oil COM
pany 1t was my good fortune to help
to bring together the efficient men
who are the controlling forces of the
organization and to work hand in
hand with them for many years, but
it is they who have done the hard
tasks"
Mr.. Rockefeller and the progressive
members of his cabinet did not al
ways have fair sailing when they un-
dertook to launch enterprises which
called for expenditures of large sums
of money He likes to tell the story
of one of his partners, the head of a
large business, who had been asked
to agree to the use of several million
dollars in an undertaking that looked
somewhat hazardous. The old man
was obdurate. Mr.. Rockefeller and his
associates exhausted every argument
to win him over. Mr.. Rockefeller in
his "reminiscences says:
81 had thought of new way to ap-
proach it. l said:
4oJr nj
ital myself. If the expenditure turns
out to be profitable the company can
repay me, and If it goes wrong, I'll
stand the loss.
"That was the argument that
touched him. All his reserve disap-
peared and the matter was settled
when he said:
IF that's the way you feel about
it wen go it together, guess I can
take the risk If you can"
Mr.. Rockefeller believes that Hen
ry NJ Flagler, who single-handed built
6O0.mile road in Florida, was large
ly instrumental in making the Stand
lrd oil company a financial success.
Where Mr.. Rockefeller led Mr. Flag
ler followed He was always one of
the active men of the organization
and no project was too great for him
to endorse That is why Mr.. Rookie
feller in his story speaks with consid-
cradle feeling of his associate, of
whom he says:
81 first knew Mr.. Flagler as a
young man who consigned produce to
Clark & Rockefeller He was a bright
and active young fellow, full of vim
and push. When the oil business was
developing and we needed more help
at once thought of Mr.. Flagler as
possible partner and made him an
offer to come with us and give up his