The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-29

With that gibe at my start in the
packing business he settled back In hi1
chair and pulled out cigar.
II don't know that we are anxious ia
sell, John" replied
What: That talk don't go. I know
you want to get out mighty bad.
What's your fguTe:"
you fellows have given US a lot OF
trouble. first and last" I unused tran
guilty. There was that Injunction
business over the London and Chicago
company and the squeeze by the banks.
You have tried every dirty little game
you knew"
Carmichael grinned and smoked.
Il suppose you want our outfit to turn
out some more rotten canned stun for
isn't fit for Chinaman to eat. John.
Thereupon I reached into q drawer of
my desk and brought out tin of army
beef marked with the we'll known
brand Of the great Strauss. proceed
ed to open it, and as soon rs the cover
was removed a foul oilor offended our
nostrils. Here's a choice specimen one
of our boys got for me-
Carmichael smoked on placidly.
THAT is something we have never
done. though we couldn't make any
thing on our contract ut the figures you
people set. and little Of the business
We got. anyway. Strauss ought to be
put where he'd have to feed or his own
rations"
So we sat and scored one another
comfortably for q time and then came
to business. The terms that Slocum
and had figured out were that Strauss
and his crowd should pay us In round
numbers $500 per share preferred and
common alike. allowing every share
holder the same terms. Carmichael
leaped to his feet when he heard the
figures.
You're crazy mad, van," he swore
volubly. Then he stated his plan,
which was, in brief. that we should
make an alliance with the great
Strauss and sell him at reasonable
figures" an interest in our company.
'And let you and Strauss freeze out
my friends? Not for one minute! Go
back and tell your boss to find that
stock he's short Of"
Carmichael threw Us an amused
glance.
DO you think that's worrying US?
If you want fight. I guess We can
give you some trouble"
It seems that they had another club
behind their backs, and that was a
suit which they were instigating the
attorney general to bring against the
Meat Products company for infringing
the Illinois antitrust act. The impu-
dence and holiness Of this suggestion
angered me.
"All right" said. You have our
figure, John"
He left us that day. but he came the
next morning with new proposals from
his master. They were anxious to have
a peaceable settlement. I had known
for some time that these men were
preparing for an astonishing move
which was nothing less than q g.
gantic combination Of all the large
food product industries Of the country.
and they could not leave US Us a thorn
in their side. They must annex US.
cost what it might.
So now they talked of my ability, Of
what had done in making great
business out Of lot Of remnants. and
they wanted to buy me As well as gu,
company, Offering me some strong in
ducements to join them. but I told
Carmichael shortly:
Il will never work with Strauss in
this life. It's no use you talking. John
There isn't enough money coined to
bring me to him. You must buy OH,
stock outright. and be quick about i;
too"
He could not understand my feeling
and 1t was not reasonable, but all
these years of desperate fight there
had grown up in my heart hatred OF
my enemy beyond the usual cold pas
sions Of business. l hated him as 4
machine, a. a man-as cruel, treach
erous, selfish, unpatriotic maker Of dol
lars.
So in the end they came to my terms
and the lawyers set to work on the
papers. The Strauss interests were t"
our figure and also the Empress line,
our private car enterprise. and two or
three smaller matters that had grown
up in connection with the packing
business. When Slocum and / went on
to New York to finish the transaction
Sarah and the girls accompanied US, on
their way to Europe, where they were
going for a pleasure trip.
Thus in few months my labors
came to flower. and suddenly the map
Of my life changed completely. The
end was not yet, but no longer was
the needy adventurer besieging men Of
means to join me In my enterprises.
lodging daily blows in hand to hand
scrimmage, a struggling packer. I had
brought Strauss to my own terms, and
when the proud firm Of Morris Bros.
the great bankers. invited me to con-
fer with them in regard to our railroad
properties in the southwest and to take
part In one Of those deals which in a
day transform the industrial map Of
the country felt that 1 had come out
upon the level pla teau Of mower
ffsOntinnnH