The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-27
ST NDARD' *0IL@|SS
+. =. e.. GIVEN III. HARD R! i. BLOWS |. N |!
Hearing at Cleveland IS Ad-
journed After Damaging Evi- =,
dence Is Recorded. - :
By Publishers Press.

By Publishers Press. -
Cleveland, May 26.-The court of
publicity is the greatest court Of the
land and before that court the Stand
ard Oil company now is alleged to be
convicted Of most grievous conduct
and abominable practices.
Of these alleged practices and they
knew they could come. into court with
out publicity and consequent notoriety
and pay the penalty for their mis-
deeds, I am convinced that they would
gladly pay a penalty many times ais
severe as the law prescribes. ~ ~ - :.
In these words j. f.: Marchand this
afternoon summed up his conclusions
vestigation in Cleveland by the inter
state commerce commission, of which
he is the chief counsel His opinion
was echoed by G. d. Chamberlain, Sec
secretary of the National Petroleum as
sociation,- and other independent oil
men. &C. - = - y !" ~ ~ il" !.
seThe hearings concluded today have
been by far more productive Of actual
results than were obtained at either
Marchand. ssWhat has impressed ma
n ost during the. last three days has
been the practical absence Of ,sensation.
a1ism and the steady rolling up of hard
facts and tangible statements. '5h&
eyes, and we could have given you
plenty more of the same kind, inter.
/ iected Frank B.: Fretter, seer etary{E of
president of the National Pipe ,comE
| pany. : - %%< r. sS3:f1E... :,.aa
,5t"This has been a. grand week faFI
justice and fair play,'' ~ added :. Nh.
EChamberlin. eve are more than sat
isfed with the showing made bya the
Witnesses Rate discrimination, II.
legal alliances with railroads.; lawless
crushing Of: legitimate competitions
bribery Of employees. ofEindependent
plants, = corrupt methods used atoy steal
customers, and more or less open: giving
more can we ,ask9'' IS syz&%z,sT y 2 =
Virgil P. Kline, chief. counsel for the
Standard Oil company, refused, to; make
any statement for publication. ~ This
reticence, independent oil men, said; was
i in keeping with his policy during the
Hearings. -, =.
~ Every possible obstacle was thrown
! by Mr.. Kline in our path when we were
seeking only the truth during the hear
ings,,' said Mr.. Chamberlin. =.
@UHe objected to testimony on the the
most trivial ground without avail
\ pOou0u WSIG P1csA!tJ GoA 49, :.
as to what questions they should an,
swer and when their memory should
prove faulty. When we were present
| Inc the most damaging Of testimony: he
! even went SO far as to say, practically
I !" What, Of it9:. What has. the ma
tional government got to do with these
purely state questions, these subjects OF
personal competition9' - 49, -.Ers..
"The answer to this latter question
+ is lust what we want. -
!, Just prior to adjournment MIR: kim
again asked the commission to fix
time and date for a, hearing at whicl
the Standard Oil company would hav'
chance to reply to the. charges mad
against it. - .-z Y
Commissioner Clements, after a con
ference with MI. Prouty, replied tina
the hearing would be granted, as prev
iously promised, but it was impossible
to say when or where, Mr.. Kline aske,
! that Cleveland be the place and tn
request may. be- granted, Immediatel,
, after the adjournment the commission
ers left for Washington.
The most important witnesses durin
the day, were W. E. McEwen, former1
rating clerk Of the Lake Shore raj
road; z. D. Ellis, an independent ;oi
dealer of Peoria, ILL.,; R.. f., Longacre
traffic manager Of the Atlantic Refnin
company and Mr.. Chamberlin.