The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-27
STANDARD OIL
MAKES DEFENSE
COMPANY ANSWERS MISS TAR
BELLS STATEMENTS.
Article Sent to Kansas Papers Con-
tanning Several Remarkable Ad,nis-
sions and a Lot Of Self Applied
Whitewash- The Article Is Paid for
at Space Rates and Must Not Show
on It's Face that It Is Advertising.

Sedan, Kan.-At last the Standard
Oil company has undertaken an an
swer to many Of the statements made
by Miss Ida NJ T %arDe IN her maga
pear in nearly all the Kansas county
seat newspapers this week without any
marks upon it to indicate that it Is adj
vertising, as this condition is part
of the contracts made last winter with
the Standard company's advertising
agency. However, the Standard com
pany is fair about the matter, and has
contracts that all matter it offers
"shall be acceptable to the publisher. !"
If it is acceptable there shall be moth
ing upon it as it appears in the print
to indicate that it is not voluntary
contribution from the editor. The
Standard company pays not only the
best rate for advertising in the Kan
sas weeklies, but it excels all. other
advertisers by paying always in ad-
vance. .-
Tho article sent out by the Standard
the Lancaster, Ohio, Gazette. which is
owned by the agency. It first states
that the Standard has shown itself
"capable of taking care of itself in
the face Of opposition.'' Then it adds
that "the success Of the concern,
rightly interpreted carries lesson
All Guilty Of Rebates.
Taking up the rebate question. the
article admits that the Standard COM
pany long ago profted by rebates, but
says that many other big firms did like
wise and that the evil grew out of the
keen competition among the railroads
for business. It says that some Of the
Standard company's competitors also
enjoyed the rebate privileges in those
not prohibited by law. Then follows
the statement that the Standard Oil
company admits that CONCESSIONS are
wrong in principle and further claims
that since the enaction Of the Interstate
commerce law prohibiting such agree
ments it has scrupulously refrained
from it's violation. "Whether this claim
is true or false is to be determined by
eoqTt Of I'll; inquiry, not by noisy asser,
frequent assertions made by Miss Tar
| bell that the Standard company is now
getting rebates from nearly all the
| roads. ~. II
The statement is made that the
| Standard company Is not monopoly,
but it is admitted that it controls a
majority Of the business in this coun.
LIy duu du 1uApOIt@uL ulluOIAty oI II
abroad, and IS enabled to some extent
apart from, the. law Of supply and de-
mand to establish prices for the crude
| petroleum it buys and the manufac.
tured product it SELLS" That it has
crushed competitors is not denied, but il
is stated that 1t has fought for its side
only the same as corner grocer would
Then follows this rather remarkable
appeal to sentiment: -.
Used Every Advantage.
tThat the Standard has used all its
advantages to gain, to hold and extend
its markets, there is no doubt. If In
this fight it has been brutal, overbear
! ing, dishonest, as many allege, it should
be condemned. If it has transgresse6
the moral law, it should be scored by
the lash Of public sentiment; if it has
violated the statute law, it should BIZ
punished as would be any private Of
fender.''
It isstated that theStandard company
is not an association Of competing com
panies, but an association Of companie
formed to transact Zone branch Of on
general BUSINESS An explanation a