St. Louis was actually an automobile manufacturing base that rivaled Detroit before United Company got involved. Because St. Louis is almost in the middle of the United States, it is similar to Luoyang's position in the Republic.

So after the United Company established the automobile company, a large number of automobile talents from St. Louis went south, providing automobile talents no less than Detroit. In the manor by the river, Sheffield hoped that the young Rockefeller would calm down. Didn't he also want to see who Roosevelt would attack first?

.

"I don't believe that he can deliver a State of the Union address, pass legislation, and then cause trouble for you all in one day. It would take several years to complete all the steps and go to the Supreme Court for the justices to rule," Sheffield said.

I don't think this matter is very serious. In the long run, it is indeed very serious, but it does not mean that there is no time for confrontation.

"Since you said it, then I will discuss it with the major shareholders here and get everything done at once." Little Rockefeller was not as agitated as he was when we first met. Since things are inevitable, he should be calm.

Accepting it would inevitably require a final fight, which would require the support of other Standard Oil shareholders.

Compared with Morgan, the representative of financial capital, the advantage of Rockefeller's Standard Oil is that its organizational power far exceeds that of Morgan's loose alliance. There are not many shareholders, but anyone who jumps out is a big shot. Many people are and

Vanderbilt was a railroad tycoon of his era.

Shareholders are very important, which is why Rockefeller Jr. hated antitrust laws so much. This was not to protect Standard Oil shareholders, but the subsequent increase in Standard Oil shareholders was the result of responding to antitrust laws. In an earlier period,

, that is, before the antitrust laws were introduced, the Rockefeller family's control over Standard Oil was even greater than it is now, almost as much as Sheffield's control over the United Company.

In the early years, Rockefeller was the only important figure in shaping the new oil industry, so he dominated the team. Power was concentrated at the company's headquarters in Cleveland, but decisions at the headquarters were made in a pretended cooperative manner. Although there were many shareholders, they

In fact, it was the Rockefellers who had the final say.

"If you don't do it right, your joint company will turn into Standard Oil sooner or later, and those shareholders who only pay dividends but have no decision-making power will also become shareholders with decision-making power. This is what happened to Standard Oil after the emergence of antitrust laws.

"Little Rockefeller saw Sheffield disapprovingly, and said rather gloatingly, "Do you believe it?"

"Maybe?" Sheffield was noncommittal. If we judge from normal development, the evolution of Standard Oil may eventually become the evolution of United Company. However, slave owners hate this kind of loan prophet very much. They have a longer history than him.

People who refer to the evolution are still confident. Aren't they just two bad guys? Do they really think they stand high and see far away?

"But the law is dead and the people are alive. The law also depends on who interprets it. This time Roosevelt is going to make an interpretation that is unfavorable to us. This is so annoying." Young Rockefeller said something incomprehensible.

"That's true!" Sheffield was still careful with words, but he could understand what little Rockefeller meant.

In any law, no matter how strict the regulations are, there are always loopholes that can be exploited. Therefore, in a society with procedural justice like the United States, gangs will inevitably exist. Even if it also exists in other countries, is there a minor protection law?

, are there no scum among minors? Psychopathic murderers need to be identified, but there are also psychopathic murderers who want to kill as soon as they become ill. These are all issues worthy of discussion.

After the antitrust law came into being, in addition to giving trust companies a deterrent, most of the time it was used by trust companies against workers! This depends on who is interpreting the antitrust law. If the description of the trust model is followed, the union will

Doesn’t it count as a trust-based organization? If it does, it can be used against labor unions.

It leaves a wide space for judicial interpretation, and this judicial interpretation is deeply affected by the economic background. Therefore, the promulgation of this law is often used by the courts to oppose trade union organizations and suppress labor movements.

After contacting the major shareholders, Rockefeller Jr. determined his attitude of fighting to the end, which also won the support of most shareholders. He then told these shareholders the attitude of the United Company, which reassured these shareholders that we have a strong

Allies, stand firmly with us.

In fact, the current communication is not just between Sheffield and Rockefeller Jr. It can be said that since Roosevelt delivered the State of the Union address, meetings to formulate the offensive and defensive alliances that they want to fight have been held in all parts of the United States and in all walks of life.

staged, this is a threat to all trust enterprises.

In the coal industry, which is different from the oil industry, almost the same scene is happening. The communication between the organizers and alliance companies of coal companies is almost exactly the same as that in St. Louis, but it is more complicated and cumbersome. Because in the coal field,

There is no trust like Standard Oil, but there are several companies with similar strengths. These companies form a cartel to control the national anthracite market.

The cartel controls nearly every piece of anthracite coal in the United States, and its tentacles have reached into the fireplaces of millions of Americans. Unlike many cartel alliances, members of the coal cartel have worked together for more than a decade, and each company has taken

Similar strategies and this rare negotiation allowed the coal cartel to demonstrate strong coordination.

The unity of the coal cartel was an alliance built on blood. It was hit by a workers' strike just after it was formed. The workers destroyed the railways, smashed the machines, and burned down the mine facilities. At that time, the cartel had just been formed.

The revolutionaries still controlled the company, and as a result, workers forced by hunger had to return to work piecemeal and receive even meager wages.

If the matter ended here, it would be just an ordinary confrontation. However, after that, the coal cartel alliance company directly took the striking workers to court, pointing out that the coal workers used intimidation, beatings, and arson during the strike to

Shootings, threats to coal company owners, pointing out that these were the work of a few agitators among the anthracite coal miners.

Dozens of coal workers were arrested by police paid by the coal cartel, and the following year a spectacular, high-profile murder trial was held in the anthracite countryside against the striking workers. They had been arrested by the coal cartel.

Seoul's private police made arrests. At the trial, not only coal cartel spies came forward to testify against the suspects, not only against all striking members, but also against the then-defunct Miners' Union.

Twenty workers were sentenced to death by hanging, and twenty-six were sentenced to imprisonment. The coal cartel won praise from the press, saying that what had been accomplished was a great project that benefited the public, benefited future generations, and benefited the country and the people.

This can be said to be a brilliant battle to suppress the strike, and the coal cartel achieved an absolute victory. In fact, the process of this case will definitely feel deja vu in the eyes of those who follow the reconstruction process of New Orleans. Because Sheffield framed those who resisted the demolition

The residents learned from the coal cartel.

The coal cartel created a fictional Irish union at the time, taking advantage of the public opinion that the Irish were being marginalized. Sheffield took advantage of the Dixie people's dislike of blacks, and ultimately achieved their goals.

In a somewhat shabby but spacious conference room, many members of the cartel alliance were waiting for someone to appear. Finally, as the door opened, an old man in his sixties with gray hair walked slowly.

He came to his seat and sat in the empty seat that attracted everyone's attention.

"What should we do, Jess? Considering that Roosevelt has just criticized many large companies, this time the workers have proposed to increase wages, and they have no intention of taking advantage of public opinion to blackmail us!"

"We still need to communicate with Mr. Morgan about this matter!" Jess listened to the complaints of some allies and finally said helplessly, "You also know that the president is watching now, and public opinion is not very favorable."

"If Gao Eun was still alive, this matter would have been resolved long ago." One member complained dissatisfiedly.

"But he died, and he met a more powerful opponent." Jace said with a cold face and a rude tone, "You and I were both witnesses at the time."

Everyone mentions Gaughan's name with a sigh. This name was once the most talked-about business leader in the United States. At that time, he was as famous as Andrew Carnegie or John Rockefeller. Although he did not start from operating a coal mine, he was

At that time, it was he who made coal a massively expanding monarch in the hearts of Americans.

Gaughan finally reached out to the railroad and had a conflict with railroad king William Vanderbilt. Eventually, Morgan found the opportunity and kicked him out of the coal cartel, becoming a victim at Morgan's feet.

"Gentlemen, Mr. Morgan has sent a telegram, temporarily acceding to the miners' request." While the conference room was still arguing, a man who looked like an assistant pushed open the door and left. Such a telegram reported, "Washington is now

The situation on the other side is still uncertain, so don’t draw attention to yourself.”

"You have also heard that our concessions are actually not big. We only need to make a little concession to let the miners get a little sweetness. Once the attitude of Washington is determined, if nothing happens, the benefits of us leaving will still be

You can take it back." After listening to the telegram read by his assistant, Jess persuaded the allies, "This is the only thing we can do now."
Chapter completed!