The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-23

silent committee.
Go on" urged Stanley. abruptly.
Il guess / know more about wood
craft than finances" said Merritt,
grimly. II cannot now conceive how
1 could have gone to New York with
all those millions and lost them in
a few months
Merritt told Of the consolidation of
the properties into the Lake Superior
Consolidated Mines and how when
| 1t came time for Mr.. Rockefeller to
convert his bonds into stock he did
not keep his word.
1T was brutal the way We were
held up" he said. Il went to Snively,
one of the stockholders In the COM
pany. and an honest woodsman, whom
I had known for. years. He told me
he had gone to Rockefeller and urged
him to keep his promise to US. but
! that Rockefeller had refused to act.
so he quit. There were tears in
Snively's eyes when he told me this"
d. A. Reid, counsel for the Steel
Trust, objected to this testimony. not
being pertinent to the inquiry.
-Public Service" Says Stanley.
t II feel" declared Stanley. that in
admitting the testimony l am per-
forming the greatest public service
ever did in my life.
In connection with the interstate
commerce laws?" inquired Reid.
ITO humanity. To all the people.
Numbered Stanley.
Gates came to me-" resumed Mer-
rift. land told me Rockefeller had
laid his plans. He said Rockefeller
would rather deal with us than with
others in the consolidated company,
though he could throw us out, be-
cause we had borne the heat and
burden of the day. and he believed
we should have the benefit of our
labors. But we would have to do
Rockefeiler's will IL We remained in
the company.
The other day" said Gates. &C
cording to Merritt. II took a million
of Mr.. Rockefeller's money to Chi
cago. and gave it to the Chicago
University. l thought that the proud
est moment of my life. but l am
pruuder to have this opportunity to
talk to YOU
Il was amazed exclaimed Merritt
when heard that Roekefellers plan
contemplated throwing down other
stockholders. We were asked to he.
instrumental in the ruin of Kimberly
and Henry w. Oliver. Ny brother
told Gates We had laws in our coun-
try and to do what was asked would
land us in Jail. He said We would
not do it for all Rockefelier's money.
Gates insisted that Rockefeller would
protect us.
Will steal For self.
Then I turned to Gates and re-
marked: You came from Rockefeller.
Go back to Rockefeller and tell him
that when ! want to steal / shall steal
70 NO else
Gates was amazed that | would not
I do as Rockefeller wanted. In few
DAYS | got notice that my loan of
$4,000 was called in twenty-four
hours. They had my stock under some
form of contract. l could not raise
the money and I have not seen the
stock since. | had no money to get
home.
+ Gates told me | would have tn
walk the cross-ties, and that l could
mo longer swell around rs wealthy
mineral man, / couldn't think how
Il could have gone down into New
! York with millions and in few
months lose it," repeated Mr.. Merritt
once more.
/ Il had not spent 1t. had good
counsel. among them George Well
wood Murray and ]. l.. Cotton
! At this point Murray leaped to his
feet. white with rage. Il deny l was
ever counsel for MIR. Merritt h'
I shouted.
F! You were counsel for the Con
solfdated Mines" declared Merritt
turning bloodshot eyes of hatred on
Murray. VINO is Rockefeller's persona
counsel.
Chairman Stanley interrupted
sharply. II will not have the witness
Fa1. vlGr
:. sonal counsel" he declared. There
must be no more such interruptions.
! story Of Wreckage.
| II was broken in health and spirits
for a fine" went on Merritt. sadly
al went back home. The loss killed
one of my brothers, ii ruined others
IN bdother. Albert, WAS stronger than
II. He helped me although l had
Host his money. | felt myself to blame
for ii all.
Your brother said that l.. j. Aer-
rift was taken care OF by Rockefeller.
said Gardner.
That is another brother. l don
care to talk about that. Let 1t go
He was taken care OF. l only put
IN Aihert's and my own stock" re-
piled Merritt -
/ Il concede you were very much
imisied by one you thought you could
trust said Gardner. But II your
stock was of the value you claim why
couldn't you borrow money and why
did YOU fear receivers for your road =
7 I'VE trusted Rockefeller. lie did
not supply the money. That Is all
He did not convert his bonds into
stock as he promised" explained Mer-
I rit1. lie got about 10000 shares OF
stock from me. but promised to let
JUS redeem in one year $4,000 shares al
$40 a share with interest.
/ Il can't see why stock worth sloo
as you claim. should sell at $40.
suggested Gardner.
! "You may need instructions in high
| finance as 1 did" answered Merritt
~ do not mean Extensively. There Is
a way TO do such things. You could
hold out information that there could
| be no dividends for years.
Have you no contract To show
about the putting up of those
| shares" asked Gardner.
Il have not"
Il think process should issue,
! said Gardner. WARMLY. TO get those
contracts"
Summon Rockefeller and Gates.
I'm yiew Of the fact that Rookie
| Teller obtained this property in n
devious way. it should be explained.
We should go further and subpoena