The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-25
RAID ON STANDARD.
Criminal Action Against Every Repre-
sentative in Kansas.

Chanute, Kan, Feb. 25-Criminal
prosecutions against every officer,
agent or representative of the Prairie
Oil & Gas company, the Kansas name
the state That is now the pro-
gramme of the Kansas Oil Producers
association, assisted by w. E. Connel-
ley of the advisory board.
I'VE have been talking with our
lawyers and we find that we can go
after the Standard under provisions of
the Farrelly antitrust law of 1897,
which has just been declared constitu-
tional by the United States supreme
court" said Connelley.
1T is our intention to go after the
Standard in every county in the state
in which it is doing business. Under
the provisions of the Farrelly law, as
our attorneys inform us, it is a. Grim
inal Offense to work for the Standard
oil company in the state of Kansas
and we are going to find out whether
it is true or not. do not know when
our attorneys can get to these GRIM
inal prosecutions, but they are work
ing on them now.
I'VE have had several conferences
about it and some correspondence,
and have just been waiting to see
what the supreme court would do in
the matter. I do not know in which
county the first case will be tried. 1
presume Hugh Farrelly. the man who
wrote that antitrust law, will have
The announcement that the pro-
ducers were contemplating criminal
proceedings against the agents and
officers of the Prairie Oil & Gas COM
pany came as a distinct surprise. It
was expected that the producers would
wait for the government inveSdgat ton
before doing that. But the recent de-
cisiOn of the United States supreme
court in UNFOLDING the Kansas law
has changed their method of proceed
ings so far as the criminal features of
the case are concerned. The law I'M
der which prosecutions viii occur
Nhen they begin thus defines a trust:
ga trust is a com bination of capital,
skill or acts by two or more persons,
firms or corporations or associations
of persons or either two or more of
them for either, any or all of the fol-
lowing purposes:
''First-To create or carry out re-
strictions in trade or commerce. or to
carry out restrictions in the full and
free pursuit of any business author
lied or permitted by the laws of the
state of Kansas.
'sSecond-To increase or reduce the
price of merchandise, produce or COM
modities or to control the foster rates
of insurance.
''Third-To prevent competition in
the manufacture. sale or purchase of
produce or comm ODDITIES
or prevent competition in aids of com
merce.'
Section OF TINS act provides mat
''any corporation holding charter I'M
der the laws of the state of Kansas
which shall violate any of the pro-
visions of this act. shall thereby for
felt it's charter and franchise and its
corporate existence shall cease and
terminate. And any stakeholder, di-
rector or officre. agent, representative
or consignee of such corporation shall
be subject to the penalties herein pre-
scribed." The penalties prescribed in
the act are as follows:
and all persons, companies or cor
their officers, agents. repre-
sentatives or consignees violating any
Of the provisions of this act, either di-
rectly or indirectly, of aiding or abet- |
ting directly or indirectly in the viola |
ton of this act. shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and shall be fined
not less than one hundred dollars, nor
more than one thousand dollars and
shall be confined in the county Jail for
not less than thirty days, nor more |
than six months and shall forfeit not
less than one hundred dollars for each
and every day such violation may con- |
tinue, which may be recovered in the
name of the state of Kansas in any
court of competent jurisdiction