The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-13
MIR GARFTELD's INVESTIGATION
Commissioner Received "GIad Hand
of All Standards Legal Talent.

Commissioner Received "GIad Hand
of All Standards Legal Talent
The New York American of March II
printed the following:
The Honorable James r. Garfield be-
gan an investigation of the Standard
OIL operations in Kansas yesterday. He
started in in New York. The idea OF
the investigation was to expose Stand
ard Oil.
The Standard Oil people are helping
Mr.. Garfield to investigate themselves.
This is done ordinarily only when men
turn states evidence.
Ushered in as a Friend.
Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock Mr..
Garfield went to No. 26 Broadway, the
headquarters of the Standard Oil COM
pany. He was usheTed in as a friend,
and not as foe. He was greeted by
v. p. Kline of Cleveland. Mr. Kline is
big man in Standard Oil he is a
great lawyer He fought Frank Monet
in Ohio for number Of years. He is a
bigger man in Standard OIL than some
OF the men whom the public know bet
ter.
John D. Archibald was also at his Of
hce when Mr. Garfield went to No. 26
Broadway. H. H. Rogers was present.
Mr.. Elliott. who, along with Mr.. Kline
(since the retirement Of Mr.. Dodd), is a
great Standard Oil lawyer, was there
Mr.. Dodd, the former senior counsel of
the company. was present.
Mr.. Garfield denied himself to repor-
tiers and to the public.
One of the men connected with the
STANDARD Oil company, who was pres
ent at the conference, but who would
not be quoted in name. said:
''We'H Aid Garfield
Mr.. Garfield came here to get some
information that would aid him in max
ing his investigation. We have offered
him every facility and Will aid him in
every way possible
The fact that Mr.. Garfield began his
investigation of Standard Oil at the
Standard Oil headquarters is regarded
as a startling procedure. Some time
ago the Standard Oil, in reply to vari-
Gus criticisms of their operations in
Kansas, stated that they would be will
ing to give the bureau of corpora lions
any information within their power, and
1t Is on this theory that they do not
appear surprised and do not expect the
public to be surprised that Mr.. Garfield
visited their Offices yesterday.
Stenographic Notes OF Data Furnished
Following several Introductory para
graphs the New York World said: Mr..
Garfield called at Standard Oil head
quarters, at NO. 26 Broadway, by APP
pointment and went at once to the
twelfth floor. where the entire legal
force awaited him. A busy forty-eight
hours had been spent in preparing for
his reception, and there was ready for
him mass Of material relating to the
amalrs OF the Kansas branch of the
trust. The Rockefeller lawyers were
reinforced by the officials of the Prairie
oil and Gas company. the Kansas
branch Of the Standard Oil, together
with all the books and documents nee
essary to explain the situation fully to
Mr.. Garfield
He was shown the records giving the
amount Of investments Of the Standard
Oil company in Kansas, the cost of re-
fneries, tanks and pipe lines and the
prices paid for oil from the first pur-
chase to the latest sale.
Copies of many of these documents
were made for Commissioner Garfield
and large number of notes were die
tated to a stenOgrapher as the preliln-
mary investigation was made.