The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-09
DEF1ED SUPREME COURT
Rogers, on Stand Yesterday, Declined
to Answer, as Usual.

TO Answer, as usual.
New York, Jan. 9.-fIt is quite i'm
material to me what the supreme court
of the state of Missouri desires me to
say to them other than what I have
testified,' said H. H. Rogers, vice
president of the Standard Oil, to Attor-
ney General Hadley of that state.
Of the great trust toward the law and
the courts. 1t was uttered in calm, de-
FAINT tones, accompanied by an air of
contempt for the entire proceedings
brought by sovereign state against a
corporation that stands accused of vio-
Iating the law. There was no mock
heroic scene. no striking Of attitudes,
no shouting nor gesticulations in yes
Rogers appeared bored by the attorney
general IS seriousness and was looking
for an opportunity to get off another OF
his jokes. Since his attainment of
reputation as a humorist, Mr.. Rogers is
much more interested in jokes than in
Missouri g suit. p.
Attorney General Hadley is seeking
evidence in New York to prove that
the Waters-Pieree company and the Re-
public, Oil company, which pose as IN
really branches of the oil octopus. But
from the head of the "System" no in
formation could be obtained.
Going to New York Courts.
The proceedings are at present mere
ly the taking of testimony before a
commissioner who has no power to COM
pei answers from stu bboru witnesses.
Yet every question and every refusal to
answer will be laid before the courts of
| this state within a few days, and if the
| Justice declares the questions proper,
then Mr.. Rogers must answer or go to
Jail.
The Jail, however, is far off. The
questions and answers will not be pre-
sented to the supreme court until the
testimony is completed. Then the
technicalities of the laws delays will
be, put into play by the Standard Oil Is
final decision can be given, and delays
to tire out feeble prosecutors are what
the Standard always seeks.
-.: Unequaled Defiance.
Late in the afternoon yesterday the
jovial, but coldly defiant fnancier, was
put in the witness chair and there en-.
sued a proceeding which for, scorn OF
Jaw, for disregard of a states author
ity, for contempt Of courts, for setting
up a corporation power above every
other right, has not it's equal.
Mr.. Hadley took up with Rogers only
two points:
| Whether the Standard Oil compan,
of Indiana has an office in the building
at 26 Broadway, this city, where thu
Standard Oil company Of New jersey
has it's offices.
Whether the Standard Oil compan,
Of New Jersey owns or controls ma
jority Of the stock of the Indiana com
pany, the Waters-Pierce Oil company O.
Missouri, and the Republic Oil compan,
Of New York.
Mr.. Rogers said that he did not know
that the Iediana company has Offices
James A. Moffett, president Of Thu
Standard Oil company Of Indiana, ha
an office at 26 Broadway, but that h,
(Mr. Rogers), was never in it.
/ Mr.. Rogers declined to answer the
question whether the Standard Oil
company Of New Jersey owns the stock
Of the other companies, which Mr.. Had
ley alleges. have combined to sti1e com
pressed PRESSED the question s with much insis
tence and demanded answers without
evasions.
"Do you mean to say to the supreme
court of Missouri that you do not know
where the Offices Of the company Of
which you are a director are located2'
QemanQod' MT. HaO1ey.
Immaterial to Rogers.
cit is immateriaI to me what the
supreme court of Missouri expects me
to say replied Mr.. Rogers.
Mr.. Hadley repeated the question.
EDO YOU want it for personal infor
mation9' asked Mr.. Rogers.
"You understand my question with
out evasion, and ask the commissioner
to direct the witness to answer,' sale
Mr.. Hadley.
At the commissioner suggestion Mr.
Hadley changed the question to: "Dt
; you not know, as a director, wher
the general Offices of the Standard Oh
company of Indiana are located?'
81 do not know as a fact, but [ sup
pose they are in Indiana, where thu
! company is Incorporated, and / prefer
to trust to records rather than to my
: memory said Mr.. Rogers.
: 81 still want an answer to the ques
tion, do you know if the Standard Oh
company Of Indiana has an office at q
5 Broadway2'
~ answered that in regard to thu
office of Mr.. Moffett, the president o
the company
."Do you know whether it has or ha
not an office there?''
l GAS I implied in my answer
!. 'tEAnswer without evasion: Has i
e or has it note''
. Trying to Be Fair.
. ct am trying to give you fair an
: square answer, but I cannot 90 ful
L Their Init will 1Ool into the ouestio