The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-20
STANDARD OIL HAD CONTROL.
DUMMY OFFICERS OF REPUBLIC
COMPANY ADMIT IT.
Testimony in the Missouri suit Confirms
n COntcntIOn OF That states Oriciais
-The Republic oil Company Pracu-
ealIy Driven 10 the Wall by Publicity.

uIlN bNhNNN y" ~ 49,"
According to thetestimony of the Stand
ard Oil Company's own witnesses, given
Yesterday at the Waldorf-AstOria Hotel in
the suit brought by Missouri against the
trust for violations Of the a~nti-monopoly
laws Of the State, Attorney General Herbert
: Hai ley Of that Commonwealth has ac-
complishei practically what he set out to
do The allegation on which the action
was based was that the three companies
which supplied oil to Missouri we're entirely
in the control of the Standard and that they
we're operated in a manner to prevent COM
petition.
Al FIRST he Standards officials refused to
tell what its relations were with the COM
panies, but subsequently, under an order OF
the courts, they admitted the control OF the
stock. but still insiste ed that they were COM
nett ing among themselves for business IN
Missouri and that they had not violated
the antitrust laws.
c. l.. Nichols, president Of the Republic
Oil Company Of Cleveland, n Of the de-
PENDANTS, testified yesterday that the rom
Germ had already abandoned busines in
Illinois and Iowa and that it was getting
ready to quit also in Missouri. This, the
witness said, was due largely to exposures
In he newspapers OF the ~company's con-
nection with the Standard Oil Company.
Prior to the campaign begun by Attorney
General Hadley the concern was known as
an independent dealer, and the belief among
its Gust omers that il was a rival Of the trust
brought it a great amount of business.
When the ~searchlight was turned on
and il became more and more apparent
that the Republic company was merely
one of the many ramiications of the Stand
ard Oil Company sales fell of to such an
extent that il was thought prudent 10 aban,
don the business and turn over the physical
property of the concern to the trust.
Mr.. Nichols, who prior to the organization
Of the Republic company, was an assistant
10 Walter Jennings, sales agent for the
Standard Oil companies of New York and
Indiana, admitted that he acted AS a mere
dummy when he acted as president of the
Republic concern.
There was a great deal Of the stock
Of tho Republic company in your NAME"
said Mr.. Hadley on cross-examination.
did you personally own it?"
mo- was the reply. Il held 1t in trust
for the Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersey"
aWere you employed by the Standard
Oil Company Of New York before you
became president Of the Republic com
pany?'
yes, | was assistant TO Mr.. Jennings
-Whom did you succeed az President
OF the Republic?"
George b. Wilson, who was a chief clerk
In the office of the Standard Oil Company
Of New York
What salary did you get as president
OF the Republic?'
The witness seemed disinclined to give
direct reply. Il got a good round salary
he said finally, and when pressed further
he said it was something like 81 500 a year.
In addition, he said, he continued to receive
q salary from the Standard.
How about the dividends; did you re-
ceive them1" asked the Attorney-General.
Il did" replied the witness. but turned
them over to William G. Rockefeller, the
treasurer Of the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey"
Mr.. Nichols then testified that the COM
pany was reducing business very where
and that il now maintains Offices nowhere
save in Kansas City and st. Louis. The
st. Louis Office is in charge Of two girls,
one a bookkeeper and the other a ~stenogra-
pher. There are only two men in the Office
at Kansas City.
I'VE have discontinued business in Iowa
and Illinois and We are getting ready to
ouit in Missouri. We had to do so because
the newspapers were all saying that our
stock was held by the STANDARD Oil Com
pany.'
in other words, notoriety is driving
you out Of business1' asked Mr.. Hadley.
yes" replied the witness, 1T has had
some effect"
Continuing. the witness said that the
Rep,blio company sot6 out to the Stand
ard Oil Company OF Indiana, one OF tbs
defendants in the action, in Illinois and
Iowa.
Was the purchase money turned over
20 the Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersev?" asked Mr.. Hadley.
NO replied the witness, 1T was de-
posted in the National City Bank In the
hame Of the Republic company
The witness added that the purchase
price was 1921, 600 for the property OF the
Republic outside OF Missouri.
Then YOU are merely maintaining a
nominal existence in Missouri on account
Of legal complications, are you notF asked
Mr.. Hadley. AL AL, . ,Le
witness answered, "but we could not do &C
because of the suit that the State had in
stituted."
In answer 10 other questions by the
Attorney General Mr.. Nichols said that the
business Of the Republic company in Mis-
souri, couldnot have been carried on without
q separate organization.
do you mean" put in Mr.. Hadley, that
II was necessary to maintain deceptive
methods .
Object 20 the word deceptive" said
two Of the three Standard lawyers in chorus
Commissioner Anthony, who is hearing the
testimony, finally decided that the word
should be stricken from the records.
George r. Wilson, who had been the first
president of the Republic company, could
shed hut little light upon the organization or
business methods Of the concern. He hac
worked IA an accountant for the STANDARD
oil Company in its main office for twenty
seven years, but he was Obliged 70 quit
business about two years ago on account
of the rad condition of his eyes. He adj
mitted that he became president OF the
Republic company and a member OF III
board Of directors az a dummy.
Il jest acted as president FOR q few months
70 accommodate the Standard Oil Company
IL Il. f-,w waAnshg WA