Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-05-29
Eloquent Plea al the Standard Oil
Hearing.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial Correspondence.)
Columbus, May 29.--The charge
made by certain il-advised persons
Immediately after the State Republi-
can convention of year ago to the
effect thatt he Standard Oil company
had dictated the nomination of John
NJ Sheets to succeed T.. S. Monnett as
Attorney General, was Gisproved last
week. Mr.. Monnett himself could not
have araigned the trust in more forci-
ble periods or with more evidence of
deadly earnestness than did Judge
Sheets in the hearing of the contempt
proceedings against the Standard Oil
company in the Supreme court of
Ohio. The Attorney General did not
contino himself to attacking the meth
DDS ocf the corporation in question.
He launched forth into Il most vigor.
Gus and effective assault upon all
such huge combinations of capital.
~ have some sympathy" he said,
with the wretch who tilches a loaf
of bread because lie is hungry, but
| have no sympathy with the rich
man, who, impelled only by cupidity,
breaks the law. Possessing SO much
that If they lost nine,teuths of their
wealth they would never know of 1t
except in figures, yet their souls arc
SO wrapped up in the business of get
ting more that they tempt providence
by straining legal point. These men
are sowing the wind and they will
reap the whirlwind."
Speaking of the penalty which should
be laid upon the defendant, he con.
tinued: "The Standard Oil company
could pay the ordinary fine Of the stat
ute every day and not feel 1t. No
Legislature has the power to limit
the courts authority to punish in con-
tempt. The punishment in this case
should be condign."
Attorney General Sheets is big man
and an absolutely fearless aud n
scrupulously honest one. He bows to
the dictates of no man. 1t is the great
ambition of his life to be honored with
a seat upon the Supreme bench, but
his ambition does not influence him
in the slightest degree TO yield for n
moment to the will Of Mark Hanna
and the rest of the bosses. The at
tempt of the Republican party organs
throughout the State to mako political
capital out of his address before the
Supreme court will fail ANONYMOUSLY,
for the least informed man knows
that his nomination for office Of At
torney General was directly contrary
to the wishes Of the Republican ring
and that his fearless course in Office is
entirely in opposition to tue mandates
OF the big boss.
At the convention TO which refer
ence has been made, after the noml-
uees for Governor aud Lieutenant Gov
ernor had been named, a quiet can
yass of the delegates was made in
i've minutes. They We're urged by
the Friends of Judge Sheets and by
those of the i've other independent
|
candidats for Attorney General to
spoil the combination. 1t was quiet
ly agreed that the man who received
the largest number of votes upon the
first ballot should withdraw his name
and that the same course should be
followed throughout, the men of indie
pendence finally TO concentrate all their
strength upon their strongest man.
When Cox cast Hamilton county's big
vote for Linn w. Hull, therefore, by
previous agreement cries of Break
the slate" rose from all parts of the
hall Hull came out ahead on the first