The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-23
ROCKEFELLER
NOT TOBE CALLED
AS A WITNESS
If He Wants to Explain He
Will Be Heard.

John D. Rockefeller and Rev. F. T.
Gates, who are alleged by Alfred and
Leonidas Merritt, witnesses before the
Stanley steel trust investigating COM
mittee, to have duped them out of val
liable ore properties worth $2o,oooooo,
will not be formally subpoenaed. If
they want to explain their part in the
transaction they may voluntarily do so.
This was the decision of the committee
in executive session yesterday, the as2-
sertion being made that if they do not
appear the public will make up its own
verdict. Chairman Stanley was in IA
vor of forcing Rockefeller and Gates
to appear
A WITNESS IN TEARS.
Leonidas Merritt, brother of witness
Alfred, who so graphically described to
the committee on Tuesday how he had
been trimmed by John D., was before
Mr.. Stanley and his associates practi-
caIly all Of yesterday. He made an ex-
tremely picturesque witness. He used
homely language and rural explosives.
I anu dI tunes MS testimony, par
tlcularly when describing how he was
separated from his big fortune by Mr..
Rockefeller and the Rev DR.. Gates, the
tears rolled down his cheeks and his
throat choked up so that he couldn't pro-
coed.
Just think Of it, he cried. at the cli-
max OF his testimony. as he waved his
big fist in the air: when 1 went to New
York to see Rockefeller, my brother, my
frga kal e ~
OF property. I got about $4,000 from
Rockefeller in loans and put up $1O,0oooOO
worth of securities as collateral"
And what did you have when your
few months Of business dealings with
Mr.. Rockefeller were at an end?" In
quired Representative Beall, Of Texas.
IT had a chance to walk from New
York to Duluth on the ties-that's ALL"
the witness replied. slamming his hand
on the table. Gates told me that" he
added.
Rockefeller Mesmeric influence.
Although witness Leonidas described
himself to-day, as did his brother Alfred
yesterday. as lumber jack" who knew
more about woodcraft than high finance,
he declared in the same breath that 1t
was not until he came under the mesme-
ric influence Of John D. Rockefeller him
self that he entered into the consolida-
ton OF the Mesaba ore and railroad
properties. long desired by Mr.. Rookie
Teller, and which finally resulted in
Transforming the Merritts from million
aires to paupers. He described his sin
gle brief interview with Mr.. Rockefeller
when he succumbed to the influence"
It seems that when Leonidas went to
New York in the panicky days OF SO TO
talk over the consolidation plan proposed
by Mr.. Rockefeller, he was met by the
Rev. DR.. Gates. The latter became his
constant companion, and harped all the
time, the witness said, OF the honesty
and piety of the oil king. But despite
all of the persuaslons OF the Rev. DR..
Gates, Mr.. Merritt refused he says, 20
listen to the Rockefeller proposition, al
though he and those interested with him
in the Duluth, Mesaba and Northern
Railroad and the Mesaba Range proper
ties were mighty hard up and needed
money in the worst way. Finally, Mr.. Z
Gates told Merritt, the latter testifieds
yesterday, that Mr.. Rockefeller wanted
to see him.
Felt Honored to Meet Him.
st felt honored." said witness LeonIdas.
Rockefeller shook hands with me in a
nice. gentIemanly way. He seemed such
a kindly, brotherIy sort Of a fellow. He
talked about the weather and asked aft
er my family. He told me that my
brother and were all right for he had
looked US up, and that we had done a
great work in Minnesota and deserved
a great reward. He said il We would
agree to the consolidation he proposed
he would take care of us. He said he
was proud to be our partner and hacker.
He said he never speculated, and so
wouldn't take stock in the proposed con-
solidation-he would just keep the
bonds
Mr.. Merritt leaned back in his chair.
locked his hands behind his head, and
gazed at the ceiling.
Rockefeller captured me-" he said.
II told him 1 would agree to his plan.
And then he turned me over to the Rev.
DR.. Gates once more.
Proposition Indignantly Refused.
At one extremely interesting point In
his testimony Mr.. Merritt told --.e COM
mittee that he and his brother might
have saved their millions II they had
listened to an infamous proposition from
Mr.. Rockefeller, transmitted to them by
the Rev DR.. Gates.
Mr.. Merritt related with great earnest
ness and detail how Gates, in the same
breath that he told of Rockefeller's gift
of 100000 to the Chicago University.
proposed that everybody be thrown out
OF the deal except Rockefeller and the
two Merritts. My brother, who was
present" said the witness, turned to
him and said: Gates, we've got laws in
our country. To do what you desire
would land US in jail Mr.. Rockefeller
with his SO0OOo,OOO, can't make US do
that"
Not Ready to Steal.
"And what did you reply?" inquired
Chairman Stanley.
IT turned to Gates" said the witness
solemnly. "'You have Just come from
Rockefeller. Well. you go back and tell
him that when I steal for q living, Ill
steal for myself
Gates seemed amazed" he continued,
that / wouln't do what they wanted,
and once he threatened that I'd have to
walk home on the ties. The next day
I was informed that we must pay our
loans within twenty-four hours. There
I was, stranded in New York. They had
my stock. have never seen II since.
I didn't have money enough to get home
with
There was an exciting tilt between the
witness and George Wildwood Murray,
RockefeIler's personal attorney, because
he said that Murray had advised him
as counsel Mr.. Murray denounced this
AZ n falEehood