The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-27
ROCKEFELLER NOT THE HEAD.
NO LONGER RULES STANDARD OIL,
SAYS JOHN ID. ARCHBOLD.

in the Co~mpany-Plans to Take Over
Assets OF subsidiary Companies.
The testimony given yesterday by Of
fcers of the Standard Oil Company in the
suits instituted by Attorney-General Had
lev Of Missouri to put three big oil COM
ranles out Of business in that State be-
cause Of violations Of the antitrust laws,
Indicated that the Standard Oil Company
has decided to make a radical change IN
It's methods of carrying on its business.
John D. Arohbold, vioe-president OF the
Standard Oil Company OF New Jersey,
now the central organization OF the trust,
was the first and most important witness
Yesterday. He swered all questions
frankly, saying among other things that
John D. Rockefeller was no longer the
active head Of the trust.
IL was also learned or unquestionable
authority hat the Standard was about to
wind up the affairs of all the subsidiary
companies which it operates in various
States ~ostensibly as independent concerns.
In several States thego are laws which
prevent these concerns from consolidating
with outside corporations, but it is now
admitted that the Standard owns a majority
OF the stock in most Of them and directs
their mdIdRoElelU LION ~ d1'
The Standard, it was reported, has already
begun to liquidate the affairs Of the Re-
public Oil Company, n Of the respondents
in Mr.. Hadley's suits, and is transferring as
fast as possible the assets of the concern
Of the Standard Oil Company Of New Jer-
sew. which owns all the stock. Mr.. Hadley
has halted the operation in Missouri, so that
II any penalty is levied by the courts on the
- thn NOnnrony IN fhnf STlta
there will be something tangible there on
which the Commonwealth may levy.
Mr.. Archbold was questioned about the
business management of the Standard
and It's relations with some OF the smaller
companies.
Who is the managing officer Of the
Standard Oil Company" asked Mr.. Hadley.
We'll, there is no such person. replied
the witness promptly. Mr.. John D.
Rockefeller is the nominal executive head,
but Mr.. Rockefeller has not personally
been related TO the oil business in an active
way for many years. l should say that
for ten wears Mr.. Rockefeller has had no
active personal relationship whatever with
the business. He is the nominal head
because of the desire of the stockholders
Of the company that he assume that relation
ship and retain it, but he has had nothing
whatever to do with the transaction OF It's
business for many years.
He has an Office at % Broadway; but be
is seldom there. He has not Of late years
even attended the meetings Of the com;
pany-the periodical meetings: l should
say that for five or six years he has scarcely
been at the office OF the company and bus
relationship has been merely perfunctory.
Q. by Mr.. Hadley)-on account Of poor
health? Is it for that that he has retired from
active business? A. That and advancing
Years and a disposition TO retire.
0 In his absence who has looked after
the business OF the Standard Oil Company
OF New Jersey? A. 1t ia looked after by a
number of people. There is no master mind
in Staudard Oil. II is made up or an aggrega-
ton Of individuals devoted to its interests.
O.. You. Mr.. Archbold. are perhaps more
active than any other individual and a longer
time in its service and more active in connec-
ton with the oil side of the business. are you
not? A. II is perhaps fair for me- to say that
am.
Q. Who else has been actively connected
with the BUSH ess? A. Nr. Barstow. Mr..
Nofatt, Mr.. Jennings. Mr.. Illford and many
Others that ! might mention.
At this point Mr.. Hadley went back
again to the nominal" head Of the trust.
do you know where John D. Rockefeller
is now he asked.
i imagine that he is in Lakewood" was
the reply. He was in New York a cou pie
Of weeks ago, and | saw hun Q
Is he confined TO his bed? A. He is not
confined to his bed. He Is in fairly good
health.
0. How long did You say it was since he
personally had any connection with the
business A. About ten years. He knows
nothing whatever about this case. II that is
satisfactory to you and it is proper for me
10 say it. He is a man whose health rather
Imposes upon him, and he dislikes notoriety
ard caricatures and all that. Aside from that.
u you want TO question Mr.. Rockefeller in
any quiet way. he will be glad indeed to sub
NIT to such questioning.
We have only one way and place OF
examining witnesses in this proceeding"
said Mr.. Hadley.
He has no possible desire to avoid any
questions or Questioning" said Mr.. Arch
bold earnestly. His case is simply a
physical one and covers a lack of knowl-
edge Of the matters at issue. He has no
SUCH knowledge whatever, / assure you.
Mr.. Archbold admitted that he was a
~stockholder in the Standard Oil Company
Of New Jersey and the Standard Oil Com
pany of Indiana, He also admitted that
VI. VI. Van Beuren, to whom the Standards
stock in the Waters Pierce company had
teen transferred, was his son-in-law,
Mr.. Archbold testified that the shares OF
stock now held in trust by his son-ln law,
N. NJ. Van Beuren, in the Waters.Pieroe
NSa.l14Ay "S4S a. GNAAAS c-ANANS Nt
erly stood in the name OF the trustee OF the
Standard. He said he was familiar with the
practical side Of the oil business and that
the daily production Of crude Oil in the
LaIted States is about $50 900 barrels, OF
which the Standard produces only about
Q seventh. In the Indian Territory and
Kansas it produced only about an eighth;
The witness gave some more oil statistics and
promised to get from the records OF the
company the amount Of oil sold In Missouri.
{. Did you ever hear about the transfer
Of one share OF stock Of the Waters-Pierce
OIL Company by Mr.. Van Beuren TO Mr.. Tins
dale; A. / did not.
Q. Where is MI. Tinsdale now? A. On his
way 10 Japan, / believe,
@. Did he not leave the Waters-Pierce
company Immediately after this action was
begun and start for Japan? A, I don't know
about that. but | assure you that his leaving
had nothing 10 do with this suit.
Q You ~ged a subpoena without
Personal service, did you not? A. l did.
Q You had that distinction, did you? A.
iL4uehing} am ready for you al any time.
Q. Who composed the board Of directors
Of the Standard Oil Company under the origi-
nal agreement? A. John D.. Rockefeller.
Charles Pratt. William E. Worden, II. NJ.