SWINDLED OUT OF MILLIONS

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1912, Page 7

SWINDLED OUT OF MILLIONS

METHODS OF J: D. R&OKEFELLER • '...■ CLERG;YM^Is-A.S: AGENT, • ■«

WASHINGTON/ ■ January 6. , The Congressional Committee, known as the Stanley Investigation Committee which is enquiring into the affairs of the Steel Trust, heard some sensational evidence last; 'month, wiieii-: Mr; Lou Meri4tt, one of the old Western pion-eers-was examined. "Ivlr Merntt, who is a typical miner and backwoodsman, claimed to \be the ' discoverer .of the famous Mesaba ore deposits,; now valued at £140,000,000 and lie "alleged that he had been swindled, out of his property 'by. the; Trust magnates. . He declared that when..he discovered the Mesaba mines he went to Messrs J. D. Rockefeller, H. C. Firck, Andrew .Carnegie, and a few others, from whom he quickly obtained promises of support. Mr Rockefeller" was particularly interested, and knowing nothing aboiit company promoting,- Mr Merritfdeclared that he left everything in the Oil King's' hands, trusting to his apparent kindness and his reputation for piety. Mr"* Rockefeller fanned a company, and : witness, borrowed money from him in order to take /up shaa-es. The company- had not - long been formed, declared Mr'Merritt, when, the Oil King suggested . that they shoiild "freeze out" the other but realising that in any such transaction he would .be eventually: "frozen out" himself, he refused, saying that I he was not going to work for Jolm D.'s benefit and that if he had ' been a thief he could have stolen -for himself.

Witness declared, that in- revenge Rookefeller.' called in the loans' which had enabled him to join the company, though the millionaire knew tliat at that time lie was" quite unable to pay. In default of payment Mr Rockefeller foreclosed aii'd'iiv'the language of witness, "grabbed' tile' ore interests which I had iriven him as security." , _ He also- said that . the Rev. F.. T. Gates, Mr. Rockefeller's own spiritual adviser had- frequently acted as a gobetween diu-ing. the negotiations, and was more than anyone instrumental in entangling him. in the net, for he relied on the hoiiesty. of a clergyman.

.. Chewing gum, . America's outlet for superabundant Shergy;, . her solace in tribulation, and the constant dental companion of. th'e Svhole nation, can iib ' lont't be resorted to by the men of the United States- Navy. A .formal order Avals issued byVthe Navy ..Department prohibiting th-3 sale of gum in the* ships' stores, asho-. 1--and afloat. ;The7 order, says : "The habit of chewing gum aboard : ship-j is . decided'v objectionable fpr obvious ■ -reasons. ■ It leads to constant l-epvimand? for chewing, in -the ranks, at cfnarters,. and, at other times when it, is hrghlyy improper aiid ynmilitary.": . The bluejackets ' are vigorously protesting^ against? {the order;. "'■ declaring that, gum chewingXis the inalienable .right of every American,' but. no heed has been paid to their grumbling, aid hereafter Jack Tar will .be compelled to smuggle luV guni .aboard arid" .chew it in the dark. '■>'-„"