The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-16
LAWSON IS EAGER
TO BE INDICTED
Hopes Standard Oil Leaders Will
Try to Haul Him Up
for Trial.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service. /
Boston, Dec. 16-It would be hard
to imagine a more perfect picture OF
concentrated human force than Thomas |
ment that John D.. Rockefeller ii. II.
Rogers and their Standard Oil asso-
ciates were considering criminal pro-
ceedings against him as means OF
ending his revelations of the secrets of
"frenzied fnance.' He said:
have read the story that John D.
Rockefeller and his associates were going
to have me indicted under the New York
law which says that any person who cir
culates false statements with intent to af-
feet the market price Of securities Is
punishable by fine and imprisonment.
I'm the wet nurse Of this law they
quote. If they had been attending to their
business properly they would have known
! that know it from A to Z: in fact was
the first man indicted under It,
Made for Lawson.
| It was dug up from the musty pigeon
hole where it had been stuck on the last
hour of the last day of session Of the
| New York legislature by those who passed
| it for special purpose-by the 'frenz1ed
fnanciers" of a few years ago-to use as
club to compel me to withdraw from
just such a stock market fight as the
present one. They came at me and they
swung it vigorously and I made them eat
it.
1t was great, big. powerful-lookine
club, all covered over with thorns and
spikes and it did look formidable but I
give you my word for it, I made them
swallow it whole and it didn't digest WELL
1 showed this law was not worth, as q
club to force honest men into line, as
much as link of breakfast sausage. I
busted" it from one end to the other, and
when got thru, it was the other fellows
who had the jail staring them in the face
and not I and my associates, and If it
had not been that they laid down" and
rolled over and pleaded like stuck pigs
they would have gone to jail.
''shin1ng Lights in Jail.''
If John D. Rockefeller, Mr.. Rogers and
the rest Of them would only just try to ap-
ply this law to this case, how I would
we'll, ia pay not only all the expenses
of the shindy, but I'd agree to bow my
head In the ashes and emigrate from the
Elysian fields Of finance to some far off
country where gold bricks are sold by
weight instead Of by measure, If didn't
put at least three Of the most shining
lights Of 'frenzied finance" and the
'system' into jail, for I would make the
rankness Of their violation of this par
ticular law SO plain that they could not
possibly get under the fine clause.
Under this law the man who makes
false statements to rob the people thru,
stock transactions can be sent to Jail
and that's where such man should be
sent, but under this law man who is
telling the truth to prevent the public
from being robbed is in no more danger
4 than a tame dove at my farm.
Value of A1nalgamated.
The statement that made about
Amalgamated and the only statement Of
any consequence so far, is that the lead
ing counsel for Messrs. Rogers and Rock
efeler stated to me in such way that
knew he meant it and that it was true
that Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Rockefeller nov
4 knew that the Amalgamated was no
worth half it's fctation price; that Marcus
DAILY had dropped 1t when he sold it t.
thenl-and how I would like to get {
chance TO prove 1t in court. $50 ..ag
There have been some statements mad,
4 by MIR. Rogers and Mr.. Rockefeller ant
h Mr. Stillman about Amalgamated, am
made in New York city, that were a.
B false as hell is hot. and if they are no
+ proved so before am thru with my pres
ent work, I'll ask that I be put in jail
4 for safe keeping and If I don't give tn
A gentlemen who are now telling what the
\ are going to do an opportunity to find on
4 just what this law is, aside from the CD
portunity they will have to find out wha
4 other laws are it will be because Their
4 in charge Of affairs in New York than tn
a present one. If I cannot show the abb
4 and fearless Jerome that the Amalgam
ated f1otation was the rankest fraud an
the fimsiest bunco game that has eve
been perpetrated in New York city, the
I'll consent to do anything these "frenzie
! financiers' want me to do. Oh, If the
only would try this game onl
Lawson's Indictment.
Mr.. Lawson 8 reference to his indict
ment under the New York law, wit
which the Standard Oil system no7
threatens him, relates to his famou
fight against the "Lawson Store SCI
ago. He and his SECRETARY We're IL il
dicted for attacking the stock of tn
company. A vain attempt was mad
to extradite the secretary. Mr.. Law
son defeated his enemies, prosecute
- them criminally and compelled a REQ
- ganization Of the company, and, unde
threats for misrepresenting the valr
Of their stocks, forced his assailants t
sue for peace. It was one of the mos
dramatic and exciting episodes in tt
history Of American speculative fnanc
Special Christmas Rates to Easte,
Canada.
81 Yin n,lll14l, O.