Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-07
ROCKEfELLER'S GIFT
Standard Oil Solicitor Asserts
 Their Honesty.
DOES NOT CONTROL RAILROAD RATES
Statement That Millionaire Head of Great Oil Industry Makes His Money Dishonestly Is False
 and DOubly Vile.

and DOubly Vile.
 NEW YORK. April 7.-S. c. T. Dodd, chief solicitor of the Standard Oil con- pany, has given out statement with reference to the recent discussion as to the acceptance of gift of $1O0,0OO of fered by John D. Rockefeller for mis- sionary work. MT. Dodd declares that the statement that Mir. Rockefeller made his money dishonesty ''is false, is vile and, being made by ministers in the pretended interest of morality, is doubly vile" Mir. 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 received lower rates than other ship pers by rebates, arrangements, devices or plans of any character.
 No doubt many have been preju- diced against Mr. Rockefeller by sensa- tional writers, whose articles, accom- panied by portraits and caricatures, are intended to create the impression that Mir. Rockefeller was principal in the affairs relating to the organization of the gas and copper companies. al- though no fact showing such connec- tion is stated The Standard oil com pany has already denied that it had any connection or interest directly or indirectly in the organization of these corporations, and on the best authority the same denial is now made for John 1 D. Rockefeller. He had no connection rwith nor interest in directly or indi- rectly the organization of these corpo- ratIons.
 "The objection to Mir. Rockefeller's gift is based upon the allegation that he made his money dishonestly. This accusation is false, is vile and. being made by ministers in the pretended in- terest of morality, is doubly vile. The assertion should not be made unless it can be readily established by specifica- ton and proof. I have seen no proof and no attempt even at specification except in the protest of Dr. Gladden..
 "'The assertion is not true. No such state of facts has ever been disclosed by any investigation nor supported by evidence in any court of law. No such facts exist to be proved. The Standard Oil company does not own share of stock in any railroad company nor does it control any railroad company. Stock holders of the Standard undoubtedly invest in railroad as in other shares. but stockholders of the Standard are not majority on the board of direct ors of any railroad company so far as nm aware and therefore cannot control it."
 A dispatch from Cambridge. Mass, says that Rev. Daniel Evans. chairman of the committee of the Congregational clergymen who have entered a protest against the acceptance by the Ameri- cdn board of commissioners for foreign missions of a gift of S10O.O00 from John D. Rockefeller. when shown last night the statement given out in New York by General Solicitor Dodd of the Standard Oil company declared that it was interesting to know that the Standard Oil company was beginning to talk.
 Dr. Gladden., who had raised the question of rebates. was well able, he said. to answer the company on that matter.
 We did not originate these charges s said Mir. Evans We say that Mfr. Rockefeller and the Standard oil con- pany are charged with various indict- ments and are not yet cleared. and. not being cleared of them. we do not feel that we have the moral right to stand in relations of honor with them"