The Colorado statesman., 1911-03-11
Smart Yankees and Leopold

tation. He was minister to Belgium
at the time of our Civil war, and for
many years after. He was a very ac-
tive, enterprising man, and had some
of the Characteristic traits of the real
Yankee. If l remember correctly, he
came from Connecticut
"'Well, 1t was Henry L. Sanford,
your minister to Belgium said the
prince. who first persuaded King Leo
pold to attempt to exploit the riches of
the Congo region In Africa. The king
had learned to have great confidence
in Mr.. Sanford, and, l have been told,
was an admirer of his earnest, pro-
gressive business methods. Perhaps
you have been told that King Leopold
is thought by business men to have
very great business ability
1T was, of course, greatly interest
ed" Mr.. Depew continued. "in this
revelation of the relation Henry l..
Stanford had towards the attempt Of
King Leopold to promote or exploit
the vast riches, and especially the rub
Der industry of the Congo region. l
suppose the prince observed my inter
est, for he went on:
came SO enthusiastic over the possi-
bilities Of obtaining great wealth
from the exploration of the Congo re-
gion that he sank every penny of his
personal fortune in the attempt.
have also been told that Mr.. Sanford,
who did not risk a great deal. after
wards lost his fortune In a great land
development speculation in Florida.
Whether the latter be true or not,
do not know, but 1 have no reason
to doubt the statement made to me
that it was a typical American promo
ter, Mr.. Sanford. who persuaded King
Leopold first to venture into the Congo
region.
but that is not all. Leopold, hav-
ing sunk practically all of his personal
fortune in the Congo, was advised and
even persuaded by another American
promoter to attempt second exploit
tation of the riches of the Congo; / do
not recall the promoters name but l
do remember well an incident connect
ed with this exploitation. which, as
you know, has resulted in making the
king a very rich man.
AFTER this American promoter had
explained his plan for the second at
tempt in the Congo region, and after
he had greatly excited Leopold by his
statement of the enormous wealth that
was in the Congo-especially in rub
ber-Leopold said:
"'"It will be necessary for us to
raise a large amount of money II we
are to undertake this work. / haven't
the money, and we haven't the money
in Belgium, but I know where the
money can be found. 1t is in France.
The people of France have great ac-
cumulations of savings, and the way
to tempt them to invest their savings
in any company is one which / know
well.
"'"We must have certificates of
stock, or bonds, elaborately engraved
with fine, seductive pictures upon
them; and these must be brilliantly
colored. II we do this, then the French
people, when they see the certificates,
will be strongly attracted to them.
Nothing tempts them like a beautf-
fully engraved and highly colored GER
tificate. l will see that this is done"
"'And King Leopold saw that this
was done added the prince, with
twinkle in his eyes, and by means
of those highly ornamental and seduc-
tive certificates much the greater part
of the money he needed for the exploit
tation of the Congo was speedily OBJ
tanned in France"
Copyright. 1910. by e. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.)