stors, but would not--in fact, could not--become connected with the
management, because our thorough examination of the property shows that
the mines are not as valuable as they affirmed. Now, when they grasp the
fact that they have all the Utah stock they had, to start with, and
150,000 more which they have bought since, they must realize that in a
slump the price of their shares will go lower than the $2 or $4 it
started from. Have no fear. Clark, Ward, and Untermyer will do just what
we ask, and, in fact, if it were not for the stir a lot of failures
would make and the bad effect these would have on our general plans, I'd
refuse to take up that option anyway, for there would be more money in
buying back in a smash what we have sold than in taking it from them at
our own price," he went on.

The implication in my suggestion that he was going too far in the Utah
deal stung him. He said:

"The fact is, Lawson, Americans who have accumulated great fortunes get
no credit; on the contrary, they are unfairly treated. Instead of being
honored for our splendid efforts as evinced by our wealth, the people
howl as though they had not equal chances with us. Take this very case:
we did not ask these people to give us options; we did not ask them to
allow us to become associated with them. We have done nothing but take
what they have thrown upon us, and yet if we refuse to exercise the
option we did not ask for, and there comes a smash, we should never hear
the last of how 'Standard Oil' robbed them. The more I see of the fool
way Americans look at such things the less sympathy I have for their
losses and what they entail. There was a period when I allowed myself to
waste time on such ideas as you seem to entertain, but, thank goodness,
I have outlived it."

The job cut for me was one I hated to perform. I could refuse, but what
then? Some one else would carry out Rogers' mandate, and where should I
and my great copper structure be? If I balked here, they would go no
farther with me--and remember, we were just at the beginning of our
association. Had I foreseen the misery and ruin with which the future
was fraught, I should have stopped then and there; but the future was
hidden, and I was expectantly revelling in a glorious and delightful
period in which I and all who were following me into "Coppers" should be
gloriously successful and rich. So I looked at the situation in a
practical business way, and I said to myself that even