Chapter 397 Rockefeller's Considerations
"Then should we also make some preparations here? Although our share of Northern Securities is relatively low, we can't let Roosevelt succeed easily. Otherwise, if Roosevelt succeeds once, he will sooner or later use the antitrust law to burn our main business!" Rockefeller Jr. said with some concern, "If we sue the country, what are the chances of winning?"
"If we take the railway system as an example, the risk is half and half, and public transportation is indeed a place where Roosevelt can easily gain support." Old Rockefeller's expressionless face was expressionless, and his thin cheeks were like a skeleton when he spoke. "It's hard to say who will win in this matter. Don't have any illusions, just be prepared."
"If the Sheffield family can work with us, our chances of winning will increase greatly." Rockefeller Jr. made a suggestion, "Why not communicate with the South? This time, he almost overturned the Republican Party's re-election."
"It's useless. The election is over now. Antitrust issues and ethnic issues are not related. Is there anything else? That's it, John." Old Rockefeller looked at his son and emphasized, "The Sheffields are actually the same as the Morgans. They are both very greedy people. Of course, we are the same. Unlike us and the Morgans, we have some business overlaps. The United Company and Morgan United have no overlaps at all. They completely ignore each other. It's unlikely to expect the Sheffield family to help."
"No way, can't we put aside our temporary differences and deal with the White House together?" Rockefeller Jr. said helplessly.
"You know the reputation of DuPont, right?" Old Rockefeller reminded his heir, "A company that has long been in conflict with DuPont is like this on the surface? It has the title of supporter of emerging industries? Don't you think it's a bit strange? He has so many newspapers in his hands, and this election has already shown it."
"What does it have to do with me? The election just ended, and I support the Democratic Party and the Republican Party? It's good enough that he doesn't cause trouble for me, and you still want me to jump out on my own." Sheffield still received a call from Rockefeller Jr. who was still determined to give it a try. He answered very formally and seriously, "John, you have to know that the railway system is a field of public transportation. It is obvious who the citizens will support. I can write some negative articles for you and put them in the newspaper."
As he spoke, he looked at Alice Roosevelt who was looking at him with scrutiny, cleared his throat and said, "Even if it's a negative article, I can't think of any use for it. Our president supports the development of the navy and the revision of the Monroe Doctrine, which are very worthy of support from citizens. Do you want me to say that without the trust, all citizens will starve to death?"
"Don't you usually say this?" Rockefeller Jr.'s voice in the microphone was full of questions.
"Why didn't I say that? Now I'm just making my position clear. If Standard Oil ran into trouble, I would definitely support it without a doubt." Sheffield promised, "But Morgan almost strangled Southern Electric at the beginning. If I hadn't dared to use Chinese workers in violation of the Chinese Exclusion Act, I would have gone home to farm. And how many lawsuits did the two companies fight over radio patents and telephone patents? The United Company's legal department was rampant in the United States, and there were only a few settlements, and most of them were related to Morgan."
Sheffield solemnly stated that this matter had nothing to do with him. The election had just ended and the United Company had to keep a low profile. Don't expect to divert the trouble to yourself. Roosevelt understood the importance of public transportation and didn't attack him first. It was God's blessing. How could he dare to rush forward himself?
Finally, Sheffield also comforted Rockefeller Jr., "If time doesn't work, just delay it. Anyway, the United States is not an empire. Just be patient and the four years will pass."
"That's one way, but Morgan is so arrogant and domineering?" Rockefeller Jr. said with some embarrassment, "He is used to being strong, so he may not choose this."
"Isn't it just that the financial industry is an industry that requires a lot of confidence? He has to make sure he keeps winning." Sheffield said a few words and hung up the phone. He turned his eyes slightly and looked at Alice Roosevelt, then said, "I will not join Morgan in confronting your father."
As soon as these words came out, the slave owners admired their own despicableness. What a beautiful statement. Not to mention that the president was Roosevelt, who was not easy to mess with, even if it was an ordinary president, he would not stand with Morgan.
If the worst-case scenario happened, that is, Northern Securities was eliminated and Roosevelt began to kill people, the slave owners could just go to the White House and kneel down to beg for mercy, asking their father-in-law to spare them.
Sheffield started the rehearsal right away, moving right up to Alice Roosevelt, burying his head in her arms, and said in a sly voice, "If one day the United Company is hit by the antitrust law, can the president let me off the hook?"
"I, I don't know either. It's not my place to ask about my father's affairs." Alice Roosevelt instinctively wanted to dodge, but then she thought it was not a good idea. She put her hands in the air, not knowing where to put them. She looked like she felt itchy but could only passively accept it.
"In fact, I am not satisfied with the railway system either. The United Company is a southern company, and it is only slightly better than ordinary citizens in this regard. Fortunately, the United Company has a transportation company under it to develop sea and inland waterway transportation. I was forced to do this, and it was my grandmother who made the final decision." Sheffield said, "The Northern Securities Company is just the result of Morgan's infiltration of the railway for more than 20 years. The situation was already very serious before that."
As early as twenty years ago, the railroad giants received Morgan's invitation to gather at a summer resort in New England and reached an agreement on the quantity and price of coal entering the market in order to manipulate market prices, but at that time it was more like a cartel alliance.
Moreover, everything that depended on rail transportation—wood, meat, vegetables, fruit, wool, cotton—was controlled by the monopoly. Small and medium-sized farmers found that railroad giants had huge warehouses to store grain, and they were faced with a dilemma: either pay the high railroad freight rates or pay the high cost of storing grain.
It was at that time that Annabelle began to unite southern farmers, set up the American Farmers and Ranchers Association, and formed a beef trust and a canned food trust to fight back. At the same time, she let some slave hunting teams strengthen the Black Gold Transportation Company.
Only in this way could they survive the harvesting by the railroad giants. As for most of the small and medium-sized farmers, they were not as strong as the remnants of the Confederacy, and quite a few farms went bankrupt.
When Alice Roosevelt wasn't noticing, Sheffield secretly called Rockefeller Manor. After hearing Rockefeller Jr.'s voice, Sheffield said, "My personal suggestion is that you should not get involved in the affairs of Northern Securities. I know that during the railroad war, your family and Morgan each supported one, and they cashed out through stock fluctuations. Now your shares are smaller than Morgan, Hartman, and Hill. The Rockefeller family has already earned back the money they invested, leaving Morgan with only a nominal railroad kingdom."
"What exactly do you want to say?" Rockefeller Jr. was not surprised to hear this, but instead asked the slave owner about his purpose.
"Let Morgan handle this matter himself. You should sell off the remaining shares." Sheffield stated his purpose. "If the Rockefeller family also shows up, you and Morgan will stand out among the four giants. If you win, it's fine. But if you lose, the president will immediately point his gun at Standard Oil. I'm afraid you'll drag me down with you."
"You promised me that you would always stand with Standard Oil. Otherwise, I will let Edith go find you now." Rockefeller Jr. suddenly said, "I hope you remember your promise."
"I haven't forgotten!" Sheffield repeated, "United Oil must stand with Standard Oil, but now it's simply kidnapping. You took the initiative to be kidnapped by Morgan, and now you are kidnapping me."
"You are not a trust, what are you afraid of?" Rockefeller Jr. paused and said, "Even if he is the president, he can't rob me. You will know if it works after you try."
Hearing the busy tone in the microphone, Sheffield couldn't help but stretch his neck, as if he was attacked by noise, smacking his lips and muttering to himself, "How can an honest man be so scary when he is anxious? This is not academic at all!"
This was nothing like the young Rockefeller that Sheffield knew. When faced with antitrust laws, Sheffield's first reaction was to hide, but he didn't expect his brother-in-law to take the initiative.
Rockefeller Jr. also had his own considerations. Standard Oil was undoubtedly the representative of the trust. If Morgan was defeated, even if he was not the next, he would be the next. If the issue of the Rockefeller family's shares in Northern Securities was a problem, Rockefeller Jr. might really agree to let Morgan worry about solving the problem alone.
Instead of doing this, it would be better to use Northern Securities Company as a bargaining chip and put the battlefield on the railway. In this way, Standard Oil would not be affected and the truly important industries would be preserved.
After comprehensive consideration, Rockefeller Jr. also informed the important shareholders of Standard Oil. After explaining the matter clearly, these important shareholders expressed their understanding and support for the Rockefeller family's decision to support Morgan in the railway system.
"I think this is what Rockefeller Jr. is thinking! If possible, he wants to drag you along to deal with it together." Evelyn put her long legs together, looking exceptionally elegant.
"Now that I think about it, it seems like I'm being too cautious." Sheffield recalled that his role was a bit like that of a traitor, and what he said was similar to what the Imperial Army asked me to say to you. Fortunately, Rockefeller Jr. had good self-control.
(End of this chapter)
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