The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-03-05
A TRIBUTE TO
HON. r. P. GRAVES
Pennington, Mo-, March /, 1916.

paper is open to a discussion OF the
merits of our friend, Hon. F. P.
Graves and his controversy with the
st. Joseph Lead Company. 1t GER
tainly was very high tribute which
your correspondent paid him in last
weeks issue, as it expressed the pre-
vailing opinion of the working men
throughout st. Francois county, to-
wards their greatest and noblest BEN
efactor.
For forty years he served the above
company with self-sacrificing devo-
tion and pride. During that long per-
iod the working men and citizens of
this county were well qualified to
form a correct estimation of his abil-
ity and character, and the unanimous
verdict is that no other man in the
service of the company ever manifest
ed more profound interest in the
welfare and happiness of laboring
men. 1t is noted matter of fact
that no man ever approached the Su-
perintendent of the Doe Run Lead
Co. with just complaint or request
for help, but received courteous re-
ception and due consideration.
The laboring men all over the coun-
ty highly appreciate his genial and
kindly nature and are today his
staunch and loyal friends, but those
who courted his friendship, merely
for the loaves and fishes are today
his detractors and enemies. Caesar
had his Brutus and Charles the first,
his Cromwell, but Mr.. Graves did not
profit by their example.
We are not familiar with all the
points at issue between Mr.. Graves
and the st. Joseph Lead Co., but we
do know that the said company has
failed to recognize the invaluable SER
vices rendered by one whom they now
charge with having caused the com
pany financial loss. Granting that
one of his official acts did cause a
small financial loss to the company,
what shall we say of those acts which
brought millions of dollars to the
company?
During his long years of faithful
service there was no record of sin
| gle strike among the employees, nor
were the company's records, during
his administration, filled with damage
suits, AS matter of fact the policy
pursued throughout the entire admin
istration of Mr.. Graves was one of
the strictest economy and one which
prevented litigation and expense.
This policy preserved harmony be-
| tween employer and employee to the
highest and best interests of both par
ties. Plaintiffs then received 100 per
cent of their just claims; whereas
now they receive about 25 per cent
and very often zero,
More over, our esteemed and much
beloved friend, Hon. F. P. Graves
never, within the recollection of mar
| in this county, had summer home ir
Michigan, Adironacks, or at the sea
coast. His entire time from January
1st to December 31st of each year was
spent as a conservator or watchdog
over the interests of his company.
1t may be truthfully said that al.
, truism dominated his entire life anC
his fumum bonum was to administer
to the welfare and good of others
/, Had he, like many other officers Of
J the company, sought his own pecun.
iary interests, he undoubtedly woulC
have been today worth half millior
dollars and with "a large controlling
/ interest in the st. Joseph Lead Co.
; On the other hand, what is his con.
! dition? He is IN the eveningtide oi
; his life, advanced in years, broker
! down in health, pinury stalking
/ through his home and his once veal
thy friends now his bitter, unrelentine
t enemies. Besides this, an attempt
: has been made to deprive him of his
: stainless character. His veracity, in
) tegrity and honor during all his off
cial career has never before beer
: questioned.
AS many of your readers know Mr.
Graves was commissioned by the Doe
: Run Lead Co. to purchase minera
!. lands and all of these purchases with
: perhaps one exception, immensely en-
7 riched the company, and have all beer
t eagerly ratified by the present officers
t Of the st. Joseph Lead Co., with th'
. exception of a tract Of mineral lane
t in Arkansas. This transaction, a:
: we'll as all others, was performed b.
Mr.. Graves as an agent of the com
pany and within the scope of his au
fhn4itv ard IF there is anv loss it Il