New-York tribune., 1911-11-23


Go back TO Rockefeller, and tell him
when get ready TO steal l Will steal
from myself
"a few hours after that Gates notified
us that our loan would be called In a
days time. We couldn't raise the
money and our property was swept
away. ] could never realize how it hap
pened that / came TO New York with
millions. and that l was left without
even carfare home, and ] had spent
nothing i'm New York except for board.
There was with all my stocks up
stocks that have never seen since.
Gates seemed to be amazed TO think that
] wouldn't do what he wanted me to do,
an q orc time told me | would have 20
wall: home on the ties"
Merritt's Work in Mssaba Region.
Merritt described in detail how his father.
hack in the 5@s. had predicted q great fut-
urc fcr the Mesaba region. ana how he and
his brother sank tho first orc pit in that
country in 1891. Soon aftcrvard, nc said,
there was a rush TO tho territory.
Il wanted that country 20 be q Minnesota
enterprise" said Merritt. II didn't want
II 10 be taken up Ivy any rich syndicate.
and I conceived the idea of a state lease
law whereby the people Of tho state could
get hold ~ claims. I had never been in
jail but ] had becn in the Legislature. and.
what is worse. a lobbyist, and ! got the
icase Jaw through. Afterward st a banquet
some Of the lobbyists told me that il they
had known ] vas going TO get the law
through 70 would have cost me something
soon afterward Merritt said. experts
went over the range and condemned the ore
a. useless That prevented tho Mcrrius
borrowing money. But they worked away
on their own resources and began negotia-
lions With capitalists TO build a railroad,
which led up 30 the dealings with Mr.
Rockefeller.
Those transactions described by ny
brother yesterday." Merritt said, caused
the downfall of our family"
Ho further testified that among the mcn
he tried TO interest In the orc properties
and railroad projects without success were
n e. Frick and Andrew Carnegie.
.Frlck. who was then in the Carnegie
company, invited ire 10 soc him. said
Merritt "IIc bulldozed me, cut me on
short and ridiculsd my project
after the building OF the road in js'3
some Of the officers of the company tr.cd
to sell 81 per cent Of the stock Tn tho mines
and railroad 20 the Minnesota Iron Com
rany a rival concern That deal was
blocked ~ that time Senator Clspp, who
vac = stockholder with the Merritts and
- tneir attorrev. urged them TO sell but they
did not n was al This time that they first
rad Slr. Rockefeller suggested TO them as
tho man who might be interested IN tue
project
Il think" said Merritt that Senator
Clapp was more farsichted than ! and
could scent trouble further. believe 10"
II had taken his advice ] would have
been better on to-day"
Arrangements for the taking over OF the
bonds hy Mr. Rockefeller were delayed for
some time.
Says Gates Talked Time Away.
1T was brutal" said Merritt. the way We
we're held back by George W. Murray, Mr..
RockefelIsrs counsel and Preacher Gates
I'm the meeting Gates merely tried 20 talk
the time away. ono entire meeting. that
cost $50 TO held. was wasted on a discus
sion OF g. that nc paid 90 the bookkceper. |
didn't realize then that the delays were
lust an excuse 10 hold us off. Finally |
went 10 one Of the directors Of our com
pauy. an homes; woOdsman. whom had
known wears before. lie had been to sec
NJ. Rockefeller and this is what ne said
TO me:
"I went to Rockefeller. Lon, and gave
him certain number Gf days 20 DO what
he had agreed 10 DO with YOU boys To-
day J went So 500 him again, and he re-
fused. and ! have quit
At this uncturc Mr.. Reid, counsel Tor the
steel corporation. asked Chairman Stanley
II he thought this line OF testimony compe-
tent IN the inquiry
Tho chair fcols that right az this min
ulo DO j7 performing the greatest public
scr,i icc hc ever did IN his life Mr Stanley
replied.
"lu connection with the interstate com
mcrce law inquired Mr.. Reid
70 humanity was Mr.. stanleys stern
reply.
Here Merritt took up the thread OF his
story again and described another inter
view he had with Gates. This interview
was while his stock was still up as coilat.
cral with Mr Rockefeller
Gates came to me- said Merritt and
,aid: 7 come from John d. Rockefeller lie
has made M his mind just what he wants
done. and have come TO tell YOU about it
and am proud 10 do it. The other day (
took 100000 Of Mr. Rockcfellcrs money
to Chicago and gave it to the Chicago Uni
versitv. [ thought that was the proudest
moment Of my life, but l am proudcr
now"
Merritt grew more excited as he told the
L.. H.. 1. ..F,..g 4
facing Mr.. Rockefellers counsel he pound
"a tho table as he declared:
Il couldn't see how in hell ] could have
zone 10 New York with millions and in
tnoso few months have lost them an, and
was standing there contemplating the
wreck had gone ,ncre placing confidence
IN Mr.. Murray as Counsel
II would like 10 interrupt here said
Mr. Rockefoller's counsel. rising 10 his feet
10 have the witness asked II ever acted
his counsel Any such statement is an
absolute falsehood"
I'll answer that" said Merritt. Weren't
you the counsel for the consolidated COM
rany. and didn't YOU act with me through
ont these proceedings"
Here Chairman Stanley interrupted and
taid that he did not propose 10 have wit
nesscs insulted, but he permitted the ques-
ton as to whether Mr.. Murray had ever
acted as Mcrritt's personal counsel. and the
witness said ne had not
Steel Committee Adjourns.
Tic committee adjourned tonight. prob
ably not to meet again until after Congress
con,enes. when the objection Of the Steel
Corporation TO a continuance Of the hear
insS because Of the government suit Will be