The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-01

lowing reply to the statement of H. n.
Rogers, vice president Standard Oil
company:
Mr.. Rogers. alleges that the vast
sums extorted in rebates by the Stand
ara Oh company from It's competitors
We're legally taken because no law ex-
pllcitIy forbade them. What I say is
that the money was shagitiously' ac-
qured. To coerce the railroads into an
arrangement by which it received a
large rebate on not only its own oil
but on all the oil sent by it's competi-
tors, to force the railways to rob it's
competitors for its enrichment was, I
submit a hagitiouS policy, q. shameful
pOllcy. II there was nc law at the time
by which that kind of robbery. could be
punished the robbery was no less flag
rant and outrageous. It was by this
means that enormous power was crea-
Il am not a lawyer. but I think it
altogether possible that even under
the common law such an iuiquity as
TINS might have been punished Rail-
ways which are chartered under public
law must be required TO render to all
the people an equal share. If such as
was made by the Standard OIL company
could not be punished our legal ma
chinery would be very defective.
The denial that rebates have been
eXtorted since the interstate commerce
law was passed is not credible. ] know
from statement made to myself by par
ties implicated that such rebates have
been e7zacted by other corporations. I
doubt if the Standard Oil company is
more VirtuOus than the rest But it is
true that it has now gained a power in
the classification and control of rates
which makes it unnecessary to use the
system of rebates.
Some ofhthe apologists Of the trusts
are now asserting that the money now
under discussion has been legally ac-
quired. Legally says q New York pa
per, there is no question that the mon
ey is Mr.. Rockefener's to give.
IF there is no such question why is
the United States government now m
vestigating the operation of the stand
ard Oil. It is not the morals of that
company into (Which the government IS
looking; it is the legality of its prac-
tfca. Some of US think that if legality
such transaction It might be as well to
wait and see whether they are found to
be within the law
DR.. GLADDEN. says further:
Mr.. Rogers says that would not
trust the ten commandments for ten
days with the deacons of my church
because they would surely break some
of them and bend others. I surely would
not. I hope that these commandments
are in stronger power than the deacons
of any church, a power in which they
will not be twisted for the benefit of Mr.
Rogers or any one else.
Mr.. Rogers says that until Mr.
LincoIn's emancipation slavery was
legal in certain sections. But 1t was
lust as much an abominatIon and
curse in those regions as in the re-
gions where 1t was abolished. Mr..
Lincoln did not touch it there, but he
had no power. The rebates of the
Standard Oil company were just as
outrageous before the law was passed
forbfdding them as they were after
ward, and the methods by which un-
der the law the Standard Oil company
is now overpowerisg It's competitors
are just as wrongfU as were the re-
bates. The position that wrong-doing
is to be condoned so Ieng as it is done
under cover of laws or by evasion of
the law is one that Christian mission
aries or missionary societies ought not
to take"