The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-11-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

Mr. EDITOR:-While the prosecution of
the Standard Oil Company will center in
St. Louis, the interest of Washington is
very firmly fixed upon it because the
prosecution is engineered by the Depart
ment of Justice here and Attorney Gen
eral Moody has announced that he is con.
fident of winning the suit.
There is little doubt in the minds of
people who have followed the investiga-
tions made by the Government, that there
is ample ground for convicting the COM
bine and dissolving it under the Sherman
Antitrust Act. The report of the Blu
reau of Corporations on the subject last
summer showed conclusively that the
Stand ard had been guilty Of offences that
warranted civil prosecution and proba-
bly, criminal indictment as we'll. The
statement Of Attorney General Moody
this week when the suit was first brought
gave full. although we'll condensed, &C.
count Of the rise of the Trust and showed
that it was civilly IL not criminally re-
SpOuSlUlC Ou 6OVCl al O1ACl Civ oSSouAto.
The history Of the organization dates
back to 1870, when, as the Attorney Gen.
eral says, it was simple conspiracy
within the meaning of the law. After it
had been prosecuted On this account it
originated the idea of the Trust and when
it was ousted from this position, it formed
tbo 0ts n IL ri MI Honopopv ~ Nau Tor
sey, which as a holding company controll-
ed seventy corporations. 1t was the par
emit Of all trusts in this country and from
a capital of ten million was enabled to in
crease its stock to $40, 900, 900 and in the
past eight years has paid dividends of
over $509, 900, 900; its disbursements on
the average being greater than the United
States Government itself. The prosecu
already had very great apparent effect
on the price of the stock, which has gone
down from $40 to $570 a share, at which
figure considerable blocks have changed
hands although the stock is not one in
which trading is usually carried on. 1t is
said that in the fall Of the last few weeks
the paper value of Rockfeller's fortune
has shrunk 81, 900 900, but it is to be very
seriously doubted whether any of the
Standard Oil stock, which had been sold
at tho lower figure, has gone outside the
strong boxes Of the charter members of
the combine.
1t is generally believed that John D.
Rockefeller, William Rockefeller, II. H.
Rodgers, John D. Arohbo and a num-
Der of other of leading lights of the com
bine have merely taken advantage of the
opportunity to pocket few hundred
more shares of the stock at what are
probably bargain counter figures.
The question remains, and it has not
yet been answered by the Government.
what the effect will be if the United
States wins the Suit 1t will be remem-
bored that when the original Trust was
dissolved, the so called liquidators took
ten years to wind up the affairs of the
company, conducting business meanwhile
on exactly the same principle as they did
before. If an injunction is secured,
which forces the winding up of the present
company, it is difficult to see hsw the
public will be materially benefited. The
control Of the companies will of ecessity
remain in the hands of the men who are
now directing it, and while the method.
of the company may be changed. it is not
likely that the results will be- There is
the chance, however, and Attorney Gen
eral Moody's statement contains the
threat, that criminal prosecution may
follow the civil suit 1t see m s
almost possible to imagine
either Mr.. Rockfellow or John
D. Archibald undergoing Jail sentence,
but if the threat Of such sentence were
made. the defen dants, knowing very we'll
that they deserved the penalty, it mi ght