The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-24
REVEALS FRAUDS
BY STANDARD OIL
Former Manager in Missouri Tells
Investigators About Crush Z.
ing Competitors.

!, st. Louis, Nov.24.-With a hearing
to be held IN New y ork and hearing
IN progress here, Missouri is after the
Standard Oil company in earnest.
methods, William A. Morgan, formerly
manager of the Standard Oil company
at sedalia, Mo-, testified that the Stand
ard OIL company issued orders to it's
agents to undersell competitors at all
hazards. He asserted that upon one oc-
casion he was supplied with false
cages to be used in the attempt to
drive the enemy from the feld.' Be:
cause he thought the cages were used
with fraudulent intent, he refuses to
utilize them.
:. Morgan 8 testimony created a sensa-
ton and the Standard Oil attorneys
offered frequent vigorous objections.
Morgan testified that he went into the
employ of the Standard Oil company
on Jan. 10, 1898, as salesman. Soon
.afterward he was made resident man
at Sedalia. In his jurisdiction were in
Guided Randolph, Sheridan, Howard,
Cooper and Benton counties. He was not
permitted to sell oil outside Of this
territory. His reports were sent to G..
W: Mayer, who had charge of the Stand
Crushed Competitors.
HWhen I took charge Of the Sedalia
Office said the witness, "the Standard
Oil company controlled SO or 80 per
cent Of the business in that territory.
Inside of a short period I had taken the
Standard, before 7 severed my connec-
ton with it in 1901, controlled 90 per
cent Of the trade in the Sedalia terri
tory:
q was told to 20 into the field Of our
enemy and destroy our competitors,
continued Morgan. II was ordered to
sell all goods possible-to cut prices
! Pierce company sold within eighteen
miles Of Sedalia and I was not allowed
to 20 into their territory.'
| Crooked Cages.
Morgan was then asked. to tell
whether he knew Of other methods re-
sorted to by the Standard, beside cut
ting prices, to get business or kill off
competition; He answered that th9
cages by which he would be able to
show customer that a competitor sold
"short' barrels. H.. ..,
.Did you use those gagess'
~ did not."'
+ "Why9'
to use them.''
=" What were your instructionsq"
~ was told by Mr.. Mayer to use the
cages only in extreme cases-that Is
where competition could not be driver
out by other methods or where othe,
arguments failed to induce the mer
chant to buy from us. -
= Made Barrels '''short."
I'D $40 o what extent would these Cages
i indicate a barrel of oil was short whe1
I applied to barrel sold by competi
tori 4 So. :,
Why did you refuse to carry out in
|. structions sent to- YOU regard T.
thss's II f Essg1 personal rsa!g Ms"
.W weh. b wesa ~ salbSgke these gage
were being used with fraudulent intent
a In the first place, good statesmen coult
r show by sharp manipulation that bar
: rels were Short o.
y Commissioner Anthony ! then an
nounced that the hearing would be re
e sumed at Joplin, Mo.
: Subpoena for. John D. ....
: New York, Nov. 24.-Subpenas wer
. issued today Tor John u. Rockefeller
: Henry H. Rogers, Henry M. Flagle
and other fnanciers to appear as wit
t nesses in the two suits pending in Mis-
d souri,: to GUST the Standard Oil. compan
l. and two other oil companies from dc
n ing business in that state. The sub
t penas directed the witnesses to- appea
/ on Dec. before Frederick H. Sanbor
IS of this city, who was appointed b
h Governor Folk to act as commissions
n for the state of Missouri.
l.