ll ever
blind them to its iniquities, and that when reprisal day comes, as come
it surely will, the first thing the people in their frenzy will look for
will be Standard Oil. This is the reason which, more than any other,
influences them in selling to others an enterprise which has up to the
present time not only enjoyed tremendous prosperity, but which has as
yet met with no obstacle or hindrance.

Of all forms of tangible investment "Standard Oil" has looked most
favorably upon gas stocks, and its secret devices have been worked
overtime in consolidating gas companies throughout the United States. In
a general way, as manufacturers of illuminating oil, "Standard Oil" had
early become familiar with the problems of supplying large
communities--cities--with gas light; and with the advent of water-gas,
as sellers of petroleum they controlled an important factor in the
production of that volatile commodity. All the talent of the "System,"
trained in "handling" municipal authorities, came into play in this big
new business of lighting cities--a business which perforce became a
monopoly as soon as the powerful tentacles grasping it were recognized
as "Standard Oil."

At the time my story opens (1894) "Standard Oil" had already captured
the gas-lighting corporations of certain of the great cities of the
United States, including the immensely rich ones of New York (directly),
Philadelphia and Chicago (indirectly); and for two years previously had
been besieging the several independent Brooklyn companies for the
purpose of consolidating them into a single gigantic corporation. This
project it has since accomplished. Its intention is to weld this
corporation with the great one that already holds the monopoly of
Manhattan.

The task of diagramming a territory for invasion is one after Henry H.
Rogers' own heart. His campaigns are planned with Napoleonic power and
foresight. When the capture of Brooklyn was decided on, the several
corporations to be subdued were "sized up" as to their revenues and
liabilities; the resources of their stockholders were studied out, and a
plan of action organized to separate each one from his shares at
"hard-pan" prices. In the "Standard Oil" armory there are many
instruments of "persuasion," and he is indeed a hardy fellow who can
resist the various "trying-out" processes to which mutineers are
subjected. This obstinate capitalist will be summarily knocked on the
head; that other inveigled into