Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-28
The SEVEN POINTS
Attorney General Hadley Argues
Custer Suit Against tho Stand
ard OH Combine.
WHAT TESTIMONY SHOWS
Monopoly Of OIL BusIness-sale Limit
Cd and RESPONSIBILITIES 10 FIX
cd and People Of Missouri
Damaged.

81. LOUIS, FED, So'-Aho SA0S'ns
arguments In the custer suit OF the
state against the Standard, Republic
and Waters-Pierce OIL companies,
were commenced Monday before spe'
cial Commissioner Anthony. Attorney
General Hadley opened for the state.
The defense will be represented by
Alfred G. Edy, Of Chicago; Frank
Hagerman Of Kansas City, and H. s.
Priest, Of st. Louis. At the conclusion
Of the arguments the evidence IN
the case will be submitted by Com
missioner Anthony to the supreme
court together with recommended
zion from him as to the proper judg-
ment.
Attorney General Hadley said, after
reviewing the legal history OF the
case, that he would base his argu-
ments upon seven points These
points he set forth:
Eirst-The existence Of combina'
zion, trust and agreement among tae
respondents by reason Of the common
stock ownership Of controlling In
Aerest in the stock Of each BY the
Standard OIL company Of New Jersey
Second-The plan Of operation and
control Of each Of these respondents
nnder the authority and direction OF
officials Of the Standard at 20 Broad
cay, New York.
Third-The division Of trade terri
aory between the Waters-Pierce ana
STANDARD OIL company as the resup
uf an agreement originally made be
tween the Standard OIL company OF
Ohio and the WaterS-P Pierce company
and since maintained and recognlE
cd by the legal SUCCESSORS OF those
companies.
Fourth-The organization and oper-
ation Of the Republic OIL company as
an independent and competing com
aany Of each Of the other respondents
IN the territory Of each and the pur
pose and the results thereby accom-
pllshed. :,
Flfth-The sale Of oil by the Stand
ard OIL company in the state Of MIS-
eOurl only through the Waters-Pierce'
Republic and Standard companies and
me purchase by the Waters-Pierce
and Republic companies Of all their
supplies from the Standard and It's
affiliated corporations.
Slxth-The completeness OF the
monopoly in the oil business erected
nv these respondents; the extent to
which trade and competition between
mem and others in the sale Of OIL Is
limited and restrained and the fixing
and the maintenance Of prices OF oil
thereby accomplished to the damage
Of the people Of Missouri
Seventh-The deception practiced
upon the public by causing II to be-
lieye that the respondents were inde,
pendent and separate corporations
engaged as legitimate competitors In
the sale Of the products of petroleum !;
the methods Of competition practiced
nv each BY which the trust and combi'
nation between them was made ef-
fective and the people deprived of the
benefits Of competition, to their great
loss and prejudice.
Mr.. Hadley went into the history
Of the waters-Plerce OIL company at
length. He declared that the com
pany has been under the central Of
the Standard OIL company since Its
formation in 1873 and that all this
time the Standard had owned 60 pei
cent Of its stock and Pierce and 9th
ers but 40 per cent.
These facts had been clearly estab
Iished by the testimony Of the wit
nesses, Mr., Hadley declared.