The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-20
Usefulness Ended Of Supposed
Competitor Of Standard
REPUBLIC HEAD TESTIFIES
Several Officials on Stand in Case of
Missouri to Gust Companies From
the State--Hearine
Again Today.


New York, December 19.-restifyinS to-
day in the suit brought by the state Of
Missouri against the Standard Oil COM
pany, the Waters-Pieree Oil company and
the Republic Oil company TO stop them
from doing business in Missouri, {. l..
Nichols. president of the Republic Oil
company, declared that as result Of
the disclosures made from the proceed
ings the usefulness of the Republic Oil
company as a supposed competitor of
the STANDARD Oil company had ended.
The entire business of the company out
side of Missouri had been turned over
to the Standard Oil company of New
Jersey That portion in Missouri would
also have been turned over, he added,
had it not been for injunctions Which
prevented such action.
Three witnesses were examined today
at the continuation of the hearing, which
was begun yesterday. Besides Mr.. Mich
OILS, Walter c. Teagle of the export de-
partment of the STANDARD Oil company,
'|NNs'R
Republic Oil company gave testimony.
The hearing was adjourned until tomor-
row.
Tells of Organization.
When the hearing was adjourned yes.
terday Mr.. Teagle was telling of the
organization of the Republic Oil conf
pany. which, it is claimed by the state,
was a Standard Oil concern.
Today he was asked what WAS the
price paid for the Sehhodeld-Schurmer
and Teagle company's property, which
went, it is claimed, 10 form the Re
public Oil company He replied that he
did not know what price was paid nor
did he know that there was any contract
for the sale. He was one Of the stockhold-
ers in the Republic Oil company. but
he did not pay for the stoek-he merely
held it. An attempt by Attorney General
Hadley of Missouri the cross-examiner,
to learn the exact position Teagle held
with the Republic Oil company, was
not successful. Tire Witpess replied to
many questions in this connection that
he could not remember Nor could he
remember what salary he received from
the Republic Oil company further than
that he Thought it was fairly good
salary" He went into the export de-
partment of the STANDARD Oil company
because by so doing he got better posi-
ton.
Mr.. Hadley read to the witness sew
eral letters which the witness, Teagle.
had written to the oil company's agents
after he took the general management
of the company, in which he told the
agents to be sure to represent that the
Republic Oil company was an independent
concern, inasmuch as the Independent
companies were claiming that the Re
public company was not an independent
concern. Circular letters were sent to
the trade similar In tenor.
Mr.. Teagle said the letters were sent to
prevent the company's agents talking too
much. He regarded the Republic Oil
company as an independent concern, and
he wanted his agents to so regard it.
~ on regarded all the other companies
in your field as your competitorsg' asked
Mr.. Hadley.
"And despite the fact that the stock
holders in the Republic Il company, save
yourself, were employees Of the STANDARD
Oil company, you carried on a fierce COM
petition with the other companies in your
field?"
YES"
Teagle declared that during his tenure
of office in the Republic company he
rever had held communication with the
Waters-P Pierce company. Teagle was fol-
lowed on the witness stand by c. /. Mich
OILS president of the Republic Oil com
pany.
Nicholas on Stand.
Mr. Nichols said his company never
lad any agreement with the Standard OIL
company of Indiana. or with the Waters
Pierce company. All of the stock of the
Republic Oil company was held by Mr..
Nichols and his associates in trust for the
Of
Mr. Nichols said that he drew the diyi-
dends on the Republic company stock
which he held but turned the amount
over to William G. Rockefeller. treasurer
OF the STANDARD Oil company OF New Jer-
sey.
you are closing up your business in
Missouri" asked Mr. Hadley.
I'VE are
you are simply maintaining a nomi-
nal existence on account of legal ques-
tions?''
you won't let us get out" broke in
Mr. Hagerman, counsel for the Standard
Oil company. You have served us with
an Injunction"
Il want something to levy on" replied
the attorney general
you intend to get out of Missouri, and
you are only now in Kansas city and
ST. LOUISE" continued Mr. Hadley.
"That is true"
after the disclosures that the Repub-
lie company was not an Independent con
Germ. you felt that the interests had been
subserved, and the Republic company
could end its existence
I'm a way. yes
you have sold your oil outside Of
Missouri to the STANDARD Oil company"
Yes, sir"
Because it had served its purpose when
disclosure had been made that it was an
independent concern?"
YES sir it had kept up the special
trade in the special brand Palacine" that
had been built UP by the schofleld COM
pany. for which the Republic was or
ganized when the business Of the Scho-
field company was sold
THE suit and disclosure had a great
deal Of bearing them"
at did"
Mr.. Nichols said the sale Of the Re-
public Oil company was negotiated
through J. A. Moffatt. For the business
outside Of Missouri 1921, 100 was received
This money Is now on deposit I'm a New
York bank In the name of the Republic
Oh company"