Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-11-10

/ 1Q0nL van DOTu anu LOOK great pains
to explain the position of the Cana
dian Northwest Timber company. He
made it clear that his people were on
| the eve of playing a large part in the
| paper pulp world. He wanted to ask
Randolph's advice about certain mat
tiers and he wanted to get in touch
with some enterprising young man who
knew the manufacturers. To such a
young man he might offer an envi-
able business opportunity. In the
meantime he would like a copy Of the
membership list of the association.
It developed that there was but one
such list in existence. 1t had to be dug
up from the associations safe and
copied. But the secretary was friend
ly to this 0ne-time southerner, now Of
the north woods; he was a young
man who knew the manufacturers, and
who would take a look at business
opportunity; he had the note of in
struction, somewhat indefinite to be
sure, from the president of the as
ISOLATION.
Gard secured his list Of members.
AS fast as a taxicab could carry him,
he was away to his Office, from which
requests for prices of paper were dis
patched, in the name of the New York
publisher who was helping the govern
ment, to every firm on the list.
That night the special agent dined
with President Van Dorm and other
men high in the counsels of the Pulp
& Paper Manufacturers association.
His position was explained and re-
grets were generally expressed that
he might not be present at the meet
ings. Only the constitution stood in
the way. There was no other reason
why one so vitality interested in the
welfare Of the manufacturers should
not be a member. Information Of a
most exhaustive nature should be Civ
en- him. Even the minutes Of the
meeting and copies of addresses should
be put at his disposal. He should
meet all present.
So Agent Gard 1oafed about the
Waldorf for four days. He was re-
garded, not merely as a master of
finance who was the equal Of any Of
the manufacturers attending the con-
vention, but as the man Of them all
who held the whip hand. Morning
and night he cultivated these men,
talked business with them, asked
them questions. They told him all
that went on in the convention, al
lowed him to read its minutes. He
was the most courted man at the hotel
when the word got well circulated that
he was the pulp king of the Canadian
northwest.
Gard, of course, had an average
number of acquaintance scattered
about the country and many of these
knew of his association with the de-
partment Of justice. In New York
hotel there is always a chance Of meet
ing friends from any place in the
world. Gard was therefore not sur
prised when, on the evening of the
manufacturers banquet which brought
the convention to q close, to pass in
corridor two old-time friends, men
whom he had known in college. They
hailed him vociferously as @Gard, old
man." 1t was against just such an
emergency that he had used his own
name.
The special agent was at the time
going in to dinner with Randolph, the
secretary, and member from Buffalo.
Nothing would have come Of this
chance greeting had it not been that
a paper manufacturer was standing be-
side the two friends Of Gard when
the latter passed. One of these young
men turned to the other and asked:
what is Gard doing now? I haven't
seen him since left college"
''He is with the department of JUS
tice,'' said the second friend. He is
a special agent, a detective working
on big trust Investigations.
And the manufacturer heard it all.
He Immediately communicated his in
formation to President Van Dorm.
That official lost his urbane equani-
nifty and f1uttered about in much con-
fusion, consulting with others in au-
IuOI1Lys LILO Q4Q AOG 1pRAOcSSA NcA
and that young man was all unsuspic1-
Gus that anything had gone wrong I'M
til the time came for after-dinner
speeches.
Before we proceed with the toasts
on the program" said President Van
Dorm who was master Of ceremonies, Il
would like to call the attention Of the
members present to one matter not
regularly scheduled. We have all met,
during the week, Mr.. Gard, Of the Ca
madam northwest. Mr.. Gard has fur
nished many Of us with facts that
seemed to be vital to the interests of
wood pulp business. We, in exchange,
have given to Mr.. Gard much informa-
ton with relation to the pulp and pa
per business. l would like to present
Mr.. Gard to this gathering, if I may"
President Van Dorm paused and
looked expectantly in the direction Of
| the young man in question. The situ-
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