May 5, 1914
DYNAMITE MENACE FOR ROCKEFELLERS
Guards Redouble Vigilance at Tarrytown Because of New Rumor.
"ON TO CLEVELAND!" "MOURNERS' " SLOGAN
Plan Is to Picket All Standard Oil Offices—Agitator Wants John D. Jr., to End Life.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., is still secluded at his father’s Pocantico
Hills estate and is not expected back in New York several days. His secretary
says he was a cold. The secretary goes up from New York every day, and thus young
Mr. Rockefeller devotes his time to business.
In this city, however, picketing is being kept up as if the reason for
it all were that the city be properly impressed by it. Efforts were made
yesterday to extend the picket scheme to other cities. The I.W.W. was busy on a
plan to put a “mourning patrol” at the Cleveland house of Mr. Rockefeller.
Upton Sinclair proposed that all Standard Oil branches, wherever found, be
treated in the same way.
While a speaker at a meeting in the open below 26 Broadway was suggesting
that young Mr. Rockefeller should commit suicide, Marie Ganz, who had
threatened to kill him and had been arrested for reiterating her threats, was
being arraigned in the Tombs court. Her arraignment was brief, a dispute
regarding the nature of the charge against the woman causing Magistrate Murphy
to adjourn the case to the morning. The papers made it appear that the prisoner
must plead to a misdemeanor, where the original charge was disorderly conduct.
“Becky” Would Torture Him
Her counsel intimated that when the complaint was finally straightened
out he would not offer any defence, but let the case go into Special Sessions
for trial. The prisoner left the court with “Becky” Edelson, who volunteered
the information that young Mr. Rockefeller ought to be tortured. All this time
the object of their venom was playing golf.
Two women whom rumor connects with the I.W.W arrived at Tarrytown by
the 11:10 train from New York yesterday morning. They carried two parcels
wrapped in heavy brown paper, according to a man who said he saw them get off
the train, and would answer no questions as to who they were or where they were
to stay. They were not followed and an effort is now being made to pick up some
trace of them.
Mr. Rockefeller’s place is guarded by a wire fence, which is eight feet
high, but carries spikes at too long intervals—every nine or ten feet—to
prevent scaling. No ladder would be necessary, if the intruder was agile
enough, and the knowledge of this is responsible for the number and vigilance
of the guards. Once over the wall, the hundred yards to the house—at least on a
dark night—would be comparatively clear, bushes and trees minimizing the risk
of detection.
For some weeks past masons and bricklayers have been at work on the
place and teamsters have been passing in and out. Though the work is by no
means finished, it has been suspended, it is said, to reduce the number of
those having access to the grounds.
The absence of the “mourners” who patrolled the estate Sunday has not
lessened the vigilance of the guards, who say they suspect a ruse to catch them
napping.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., himself seems less concerned about the
efforts against him than are his employers. He played golf yesterday morning
and spent the afternoon reading and strolling about the grounds. His physical
condition is much improved and his is expected to be at work again within the
week.
“On to Cleveland!”
In the meantime, “On to Cleveland” was the slogan adopted yesterday by
some of the “mourners’ brigade,” who believe that the Free Silence League is
not doing enough at present to convince young Mr. Rockefeller of its sympathy
with the striking Colorado coal miners.
“Joe” Cohen, an I.W.W. adherent, declared positively that he and a few
others would depart for Cleveland Friday night and that there they will
organize a branch of the picket movement. The Rockefellers’ church and their
home in that city, said Cohen, will be patrolled by “mourners.”
The picketing of 26 Broadway went on as usual yesterday, and a meeting
on Broadway a few feet south of the Standard Oil quarters was thrown in for
good measure. It was opened by Frank Lowe, of the Live and Let Live League, but
rapidly turned into an I.W.W. conclave when “Sam” Hartman, “Blond Dave”
Sullivan and others took charge.
Repudiates “Sweet Marie”
Frank Shay, secretary of the Free Silence Protest Committee, with
headquarters at 8 Trinity Place, issued a statement yesterday declaring that he
and his associates “are not in sympathy with Marie Ganz or any other agitator
who threatens the lives of Mr. Rockefeller or others connected with the
Standard Oil Company.”
A misunderstanding as to the nature of the charge upon which Marie Ganz
is being tried in connection with threats against the life of John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., yesterday brought the hearing of that fiery young person to
an abrupt halt and caused an adjournment to this morning to give Harold
Spielberg, her attorney, the opportunity to produce witnesses. Three hundred
I.W.W. followers were turned away.
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