The Washington bee., 1899-04-29
SPURNED $4OO OOO BR|B[.
FRANK S. Monnett, Attorney
General of Ohio. Says
He Did 1t.
ATTACKS THE OIL TRUST.
Predecessor Began Fight Succeeded
in Having Standard Oil Co. De-
clared an Illegal Corporation.

Trust Declared Ia Contempt of Court
and States that Representative Offered
Him 100000 to- Cease Actiyity-Is 4
Very Persistent Man.
There is no reason why special cred
1T should be given to a public official
who spurns a bribe, yet the fact re-
mains that the public is strongly in
clined to give such credit, and particu-
larly to one who spurns 100000
bribe which he could easily have
taken under the circumstances and
never have been accused of anything
worse than quitting in fight against
a monster monopoly that means
nothing but hard work to him
: That is why there is so much inter
est in Frank s. Monnett, the young
Attorney-General of Ohio. who was
won the plaudits of the peopi,' of his
own and other States by his persis-
tent and we'll directed attack on the
Standard Oil Company. He has
shown the sort of courage that men
like, and, if the people of his State
ever nominate him for a higher office
than he now holds, as is not unlikely,
he will make mighty strong candi-
date, even though the Oil Trust mag
mates exert their tremendous money
power against him, as they surely
will do.
Mr.. Monnett is I4ot more than thirty
eight years old. He was elected At
torney- General of Ohio in 1895. His
predecessors had begun suit against
the Standard Oil Company which had
resulted in the declaration of the Ohio
Supreme Court that the trust was an
illegal corporation and must cease its
operations in the State. That order
had been given by the court in 1895,
and Mr.. MOnnett, like everybody els,.
familiar with the situation, knew that
the trust had made merely a pretense
of obeying it.
Immediately he started proceedings
to have the trust magnates declared
in contempt of court and further pro-
ceedingS to have the charters of it's
constituent companies in Ohio taken
away because of the illegal alliance
into which they had entered Through
these proceedings he has made life a
burden to the Standard Oil Company's
officers. and so wisely has he wagPd
his war that they are fearful of the
results.
1t surprised nobody, therefore. when
a few weeks ago Mr.. MOnnett told of
an attempt which has been made to
get him to cease fighting by bribe of
100000. In the presence of his
brother-in-law q representative of the
trust told him where he could find
100000 that nobody need ever know
he received if he would only cease his
activity. He was not asked even TO
withdraw any of the suits he had be-
gun but merely to let them drag
along until his term of office expired
What sort of a man is this young
lawyer who puts aside an immense
fortune. n fortune as great or greater
than he can hope to make by life of
hard work?
Mr.. MOnnett is a quiet serious man.
of student-like appearance. one who
carefully plans his actions and weighs |
the results before he moves. He is
tall. about five feet ten. not at all in !
clinPd to StOutneSS. is inclined to StOOp /
n little. particularly when he shOves |
his hands i'm his pockets and walks |
up and down a room thinking over a |
case or cOnversing with friend.
His forehead is high and broad. His |
dark brown hair is parted i'm the mid |
die and brushed to either side. but not |!
ut all in 'chappie" style. His eyes |
are dark. large and expressive. His |
jaw is square, the lines of his mouth |
are firm. and altogether he looks as
he is. man with much reserve force
and confidence that when he needs 1t
it will be available.
Mr.. Monnett speaks slowly and does
not allow himself to get excited. In
getting at the truth regarding the
methods and doings of the Standard
Oil Trust. Mr.. MOnnett has had to
reason many things out and form his
own conclusions. as the trust has more
secrets than a political boss and pays
hundreds of thousands of dollars a
year to lawyers to guard them. MANY
Of his conclusions he finds are not ius-
tilted as the evidence develops. and il
is there that the persistent character
Of the man best shows. --.-
Starting out to establish a point
with witness. who will tell practical
ly nothing and Is constantly looking
for an opportunity to ridicule him.
Mr.. MOnnett frames his questions ac-
cording to the conclusions he has
reached. and as he puts them he is
soon able to ascertain from the man.
ner of the witness and the trust law
yers whether he is on the right track
or not. If he is wrong they ridicule.
II he is right they object and protest
Mr.. Monnett is an exceedingly affa-
bic man. in q quiet, unostentatious
way. He does not regard himself as
4 glant-k1ller. or a monSter-hunter
He simply knows that the laws of
Ohio prohibit operations of monopolies
within the State. that the Courts of
Ohio have declared the Standard Oil
Company to be such an illegal monop-
ply, and that as Attorney General it is
his business to see that the laws are
and the mandate of the court