The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-09
MOODY ON TRAIL
OF STANDARD OIL
Kansas at the Bottom Of the In.
quiry Leading to Prosecu-
ton Of Trust.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Washington, Dec. 9.-Attorney Gem
eral Moody will begin prosecution of
the Standard Oil company for viola
ton of the antitrust law by entering
into combinations in restraint of trade.
It will require some time for him to
prepare the case, but it will be based on
the investigation of the operation Of the
oil trust, particularly in Kansas, made
by Corporation Commissioner Garfield
by the direction Of congress.
Mr.. Garfield has completed this in
vestigat ton and is now putting the fin
fishing touches on the report which will
transmission to congress. The report
may not be submitted to congress I'M
til after the Christmas recess, and
when it is placed in possession of the
legislators, such Of the important evil
dence will be withheld, because by
placing all the facts before congress the
government will give away its case
and enable the Standard Oil company
to make preparations for it's defense in
a manner which would give it a. great
advantage over the government.
The Wrath Of Kansas.
Just before the adjournment Of the
last congress the Standard Oil commit
ted acts in Kansas which aroused the
wrath Of the people of that state and
caused congress to direct most search
ing investigation by the commissioner
of corporations. .
It was charged that soon after the
discovery of oil in Kansas the Standard
Oil company made contracts with the
| owners of the wells to purchase their
product at a fair price: The oil was
the Standard Oil com pany, but a pipe
| line was built by the company and the
oil was pumped direct to the refneries.
Then the oil trust reduced the price Of
oil below the point at which it was
| profitable for the wellowners to sell it.
The tankcars had disappeared and the
Kansas producers were at the absolute
mercy of the trust, as there was no
outlet for their product. They refused
to accept the price offered by the trust
for their oil. The trust then closed
down it's pipeline, and practically ruined
the oil producers of Kansas, who had
invested a large amount Of money in
developing their wells.
Campbell, Trust-Buster.
The facts were presented to congress
by Representative Campbell, in whose
district the oil wells are located, and
the house Immediately directed that an
investigation be made, not only into the
Kansas oil situation, BUTT in the manner
| IN which the trust conducts its. bust
| ness. Commissioner Garfield was not
directed to make and Recommendations,
but merely to ascertain the facts. He
conducted the investigation personally,
but had the assistance Of some of the
| experts of his bureau.
While Mr.. Garfield will not discuss
the situation, it is known that he found
| a condition Of affairs which will Justify
| a prosecution of the oil trust. He does
| not recommend a prosecution, but the
facts are of such a character that they
cannot be ignored by the department
Of justice.
: TO the Courts.
| President Roosevelt and Attorney
| General Moody have had several con-
ferences with Commissioner Garfield,
and he has laid all Of the facts before
them. The evidence shows such a
| fragrant violation Of the antitrust law
| by the Standard Oil company that the
administration has decided that the
only course to pursue is to take the
case into the courts. For some time
Attorney General Moody has had the
matter under consideration and while
he has, not actually begun the prepare,
ton Of the case. he has taken the in
itial steps which will lead to the prose
cution of the most powerful trust in
this country