OIL KING AND PUBLICAN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 148, 13 June 1908, Page 4

OIL KING AND PUBLICAN

A TITANIC STKUHiEK.

New York. April Hi. Mr. Rockefeller, tae mulli-niiliioiiaire, "ami Mr. John Alciin, a#publii.-an, have locked hands in a Titanic struggle. The oil king has a splendid countrv properly at IVanfico Hill,, State of New fork, upon which he has spent vast sums on enlargements !ini | improvements. The only eyesore is Air. Meliu's ramshackle occi'Jhoiise, near o if the hig entrances, where it is about as appropriate as a I hutched barn would be in Park Lane. Admittedly. Mr. Rockefeller, nho is somewJiat aesthetic in his old age, wauls to raze .Mr. Alelin's grog-shop, but the owner is a stubborn Swede, ami alisoluiely refuses to agree to terms. Mr. Aleliu was interviewed to-day. He says he acts upon principle, as an American citizen, and that he is passionately devoted to his little bit of property. "I. want,'' he declared, "niv one-story public-house to .stand after me as a monument to the poor but humble ritiu-seller who wouldn't sell out to the world's richest man."' Air. Aleliu alleges that. Rockefeller, despairing of buying him out/ set detectives to work in the hope of convicting him under the licensing laws, but signally failed. Air. Merlin says he is all the* more determined to light to the end because his niercenarry neighbors suggest that he does not care a'rap for the old publichouse, and is -merely holding out for an exorbitant price. Anyway, the incident, is considered of snllicienf national importance by the American newspapers to-day to warrant the publication of Mr. Rockefeller's; and Air. .Merlin's photographs side by side, and also pictures of the millionaire's home contrasted with the Swede** humble grog-shop. "Do you'know Mr. Rockefeller personally;" a reporter asked. "Certainly," replied Air. Aleliu. 'Tie is a gentleman; but because lie already owns 51)00 acres of the Pocanlieo Hills'auil is putting up a .CtlHO.tmo castle, that is no reason why I should sell to this niouevlord. I am a gentleman, too: and lill my customers who come for tlu-ir dailv gmg are geuilemeii. Tbev can't all'ord a castle, like Air. liockel'eiler. but 1 am happy because this little old place is the Oil* .sore thorn in John D.'s side. It is a money-maker. The newspaper advertising 1 get lighting him brings trade."