The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-20
Is Not Employed by Kansas Oil
Producers Association.
r. Dumont Smith and w. ).
Fitzpatrick VIII Handle Cases.
QUEER INVESTIGATION.
Much Evidence Secured Had No
Bearing on Standard Case.
Railroad Men Say Hearst Was
After Morton.

Frank S. Monnett of Ohio has been
relieved as chief counsel and prose-
cutor in the cases instituted against
the Santa Fe railroad and the Stand
ard Oil company, wherein violation Of
the Kansas antitrust laws and con-
spiracy between the two to control the
sale and distribution of the Kansas oil
product is charged.
This move was decided upon at a
meeting of the leading members of the
Kansas Oil Producers association at
Independence. Kansas, Saturday. SEN
ators Fred Dumont Smith and W. S.
Fitzpatrick were retained some time
ago by the Kansas Oil Producers as
scciation to carry on the legal fight
against the Standard Oil company.
They demanded that they be given
complete control, and this was agreed
60 Saturday evening at Independence.
Tt is stated that Monnett offered to
help the Kansas oil producers without
pay from them when he secured per
mission to begin the proceedings in
court which he instituted against the
Santa Fe and the Standard Oil COM
pany. honnett has been taking testi-
mony ostensibly to be used in the case
against the Santa Fe by day and has
been sending it to the Hearst papers
BY night
1.-THE producers never employed
Monnett nor paid him anything said
J. NJ. Parker, secretary of the Oil
Producers association. He volun-
teered his services. and they were &C
copied Hearst, understand, is foot
Kansas lawyers and naturally they
don't want to play second fiddle.
They will look after our interests and
Will have control of any cases we
81 have felt for some time that we
should divorce this fight from the
Hearst newspapers, said County At
torney Shukers. of Chautauqua coun- |
~, who filed the suit against the Santa !
Fe. "Monnett's first duty is to his
newspa pers. which pay the bills. |
Chautauqua county is footing the bills J
for the taking of testimony, except
N4onnett's salary, and it does not feel
like spending money for the sole pur-
pose OF letting some newspaper get a !
little glory out OF the night It mas
been arranged for Smith and F1tzpaU-
rick to help me in this suit When
they take hold, Monnett will step
aside as chief prosecutor and viii
probably devote his entire time to his
Upon its face it appeared that the suit
against the Santa Fe ra1lroa O. was
tauQua county in the name of the state OF
Kansas In spite Of this fact Monnett ap-
ANNA ton of the witnesses who were call |
ed. The machinery Of the states legal de-
hearings were held in the attorney gen
erals office. It is a fact, however, that
the legal representative of the state re-
NAMED in the background and took but
little or no part in the proceedings
Suits asking for a receiver and also ask
ing for q writ of custer were filed stimuli |
1aneously against the Santa Fe and the |
Standard oil company.
Since the suits were fled there has been 1
\ marked activity in the Investigation |
and prosecution Of the suit against the /
Standard OIL COMPANY.
A great deal Of the evidence secured in |
the examination of ". ]. Healy, freight !
auditor of the Santa Fe, last week, had /
absolutely no bearing on the OH conJro-
versy. so the railroad officials claim. Mr.. /
Adonnett delved into a large number OF /
tirely foreign to the Standard OIL investi- 1
cation It is now believed by the railroad 4
the examination of Mr.. Healy to secure /
evidence which would tend to incriminate /
Paul Morton. rather than to find evidence /
to be used in the Standard Oil contro- /
The Hearst papers are fighting the ad- |
rninistration and Mr.. Hearst has been /
particularly cutspoken in regard to the /
appointment of Paul Morton as secretary /
of the navy BY President Roosevelt. Nor /
ton was formerly second vice president Of |
the Santa Fee in charge of traffic. and |
tunity for Mr.. Monnett to get at the tariff 4
sheets and make an investigation covering /
the period of time during which Mr.. Nor
1on was with the Santa Fe.
However. If the theory Is correct that
Monnett was trying to md evidence of Il
legal acts on the part of Mr. Morton by
rummaging through the old tariffs, he has
been entirely unsuccessful
The Hearst papers have also been very
loud IN the denunciation of Commissioner
Garfield of the United States bureau of
corporations and labor. The Hearst pa
pers have been trying to discredit Garfield
and by putting two and two together the
impression is spreading that much OF the
stirred up in Kansas may be traced to in
influences which Hearst inspired