The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-07
ROCKEFELLER IS DEPENDED Magnate an Honest Man,
 Says MT. DOdd. CHIEF SOLICITORS SPIEL Statement Regarding Stan
 dard 0il'S Virtue. "FaIse. Vile, DoubIy viIe," Says John's ssIsried 0mcisI of Assertions
 That His Bes. Made Money
 shadi1y.
CHIEF SOLICITORS SPIEL

Company, gave out a statement today with reference to the recent discuss sion as to the acceptance of a gift of s1oo.ooe offered by John D. Rockefeller for missionary work.
 MT. Dodd declares that the state- ment that MT. Rockefeller made his money dishonesty ~is false and vile and being made by ministers in the pretended interest of morality Is doubly vile" MT. Dodd then says that the Standard oil Company does not own a share of stock of any railroad company, does not control any railroad company and that since the enactment of the interstate commerce law has not neceived lower rates than other ship pers by rebates. arrangements. devices or plans of any character. The testi- mony of Howard Page. freight agent of the Standard oil Company before the individual commission Is quoted in this connection. With reference to gas and copper companies MT. Dodd says:
 'No doubt many have been preiu- diced against Mir. Rockefeller by sen- sational writers whose articles. ac- compained by portraits and carica- lures. are intended to create the in- precision that Mir. Rockefeller was principal in the affairs relating to the organization of the gas and copper companies. although no fact showing such connection is stated. The Stand- ard oil Company has already denied that 1t had any connection or interest directly or indirectly in the organiza- ton of these corporations and on the best authority, the same denial Is now made for John D. Rockefeller. He had no connection with nor interest in, directly or indirectly, the organiza- o%
 Mir. Dodds statement s as follows:
 Dodd's Statement.
 ~rhere may well be a difference of opinion on the abstract question whether the Board of Missions should receive gifts unless sattsfied that the giver is honest; but ali will agree that if he who brings his gift to the altar must come with clean hands, stfu more should he who ministers at the altar and receives the gift, be free from stain. There Is no excuse for those who make money dishonestly and still less excuse for those who In the name of religion falsely accuse their fellow men
 'srhe objection to Mir. Rockefeiler's gift is based on the allegation that he made his money dishonestly. This ac- cusation is false. is vile and being made by ministers In the pretended interest OL ID 0SA1%% fAsOs The assertion should not be made un- less 1t can be readily established by specification. except in the protest of Dr. Gladden.. He says:
 "Tn this case the investigation has been thoroughly made and the Facts are known. The legislative inquiries, the records of the courts. have given the reading people of this country the materials for a judgment on the methods of Standard oil and there never was a day when their minds were as clear on this subject as they are now Then follows the specification, Mir. Rockefeller may deny that rebates are now given to the Standard; but the Standard now controls about two- thirds of the railroads of this country and its power is exerted in establishing of freights in such way that it can kill competition. Rebates are no longer necessary.
 Gladden's Assertion Untrue.
 The assertion Is not true. Such a state of facts has never been dis closed by any investigation nor sup ported by evidence in any court of law. No such facts exist to be proved. The Standard oil Company does not own a. share of stock of any railroad com pany nor does 1t control any railroad sonpany Stockholders of the Stan- dard undoubtedly invest in railroads as in other shares. but stockholders of the Standard Company are not . majority on the board of directors on any railroad so far as am aware and therefore cannot control
 "The question of railway rebates and Standard Oil control of railways was by the United States In dustriai Commission in 1900 and they ranorted no such facts. Members of the Standard and Of the railways were in relation to these subjects. It was shown that prior to the enact- ment of the interstate commerce law the rebate system was universal Rail- roads made their nominal rates higher than they expected to obtain from regular shippers and the amount of actual freight to be paid was matter off contract. Each shipper made the best terms he could. The Standard did not invent this system, it found it existing and could not do business without submitting to it. Like all other shippers it made the best rate t was able to make with the railroads. It's refineries were located at points where it could take advantage of rail- .oad competition. It also strove to rive equivalents for reductions in 'reight. It shipped not only carloads.
 
 md other facilities and assumed all fisk of loss Public opinion, more in these days than in hose, may have discovered that this was all wrong. but at that time the business man who did not accept that method would better have closed his shop.
 Paid to All Shippers.
 'srhe stories told in the immense ag- gregate of the rebates paid to tho standard were shown by that investi- <ation to be untrue. A large portion 1f the rebates paid were not discrim- natory. They were paid ao all ship= 1ers who shipped exclusively by rail. 1t was impossible for any shipper to know with certainty what rates hls were paying.
 '"The Standard often found that its had been paying less than t paid Furthermore the public ob- .ained the advantage of the low rates received. The reduced price at which inc public for many years had been