The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-02-24
PRESIDENT SEES IN KANSAS OIL
BASIS FOR NEW MEASURE.
SQUARE DEAL TO EVERYONE
individuals and Small Companies Must
Be Protected From Great
Trusts.

washington, Feb. 22.-PreSldent
Roosevelt has DIRECTED that the de-
partment of justice cooperate with
the department of commerce and labor
in the Investigation of the affairs OF
the Standard Oil company
The presidents idea in having the
department of justice work with the
department of commerce and labor In
the investigation is that if information
is received it will be turned over TO
the special attorneys of the depart,
ment of justice, who will be able to
pass on it from legal point OF view.
IN the event these attorneys believe
auailicnal information is desired they
can inform the commissioner of cor,
porations, who will direct that the ne
cessary evidence be secured.
| Commissioner Garfield and the presi-
dent talked over plans yesterday. The
president has placed no limit on the
scope of the inquiry He has told Mr.
Garfield that he expects him through
his bureau to make the investigation
thorough in every respect.
Basis of New Law.
The president believes in the pres
ent instance the Standard Oil COM
pany has furnished him with the basis
for law preventing the great corpora
tions crushing out the life of the
smaller business men. He believes
that from this case will grow a law
deal" to every man. Attorney General
Moody has been requested by the pres
ident to go into the case thoroughly
and to advise him whether the present
laws are sufficient to prevent this. Ii
they are not, the president will refer
the entire matter to congress with a
which will give every man, be he big
or little, "a square deal.'
In discussing the investigation with
Representative Campbell, the presl-
dent declared that from the represen.
tations which have been made by the
cll producers of Kansas and from
other sources, case will be made
against the Standard Oil company.
Great Credit in Prosecution.
The president argues that as the
Standard Oil company is the greatest
trust and monopoly in the country that
he will receive all the more credit for
having dissolved it or so crippled ii
that it will no longer be menace ir
the oil fields and to the small pro
ducers.
He has also seized upon this case
as the important event of his admins
tration to prevent the interference OF
the trust, not only with state legisla
lures, but with the affairs of the ma
tional government as we'll. The presi
dent told two of his callers that he
was determined to have the investiga
ton pushed to the utmost for the rea
son that he was convinced that pro
per investigation will show that th'
Standard Oil company is a violator o
\ the law, if not in Kansas, in othel
states.
It has been suggested to the presi
dent that former Attorney Genera
Monnett of Ohio, who is a democra
and who waged unceasing war agains
the Standard Oil company in tina
state, be called in to aid the govern
ment in the prosecution of the presen
investigation.
| Sure of Thorough Inquiry.
Representative Campbell is convinc
ed from his talks with the presiden
that the investigation will be honestl,
and promptly carried on, and ii ther'
: is the slightest chance for crimina
prosecution by the department of jus
tice it Will be made.
The situation in the Beaumont ol
: fields will also be investigated, bu
I just at present all the energies OF th'
! bureau OF corporations will be directe'
. toward the Kansas oil fields.
Mr. Campbell gave to the presiden
: hundreds of letters and kilograms h
! had received since the ordering of tn
5 investigation praising the action of tn
! administration.