Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-08-21
STANDARD OIL STATEMENT
Federal Authorities Are Accused Of
Conspiracy Against Company,
IT DENIES ALL WRONG DOING
Omcials Say OIL Octopus Has Been
Careful to Keep within the
Letter and Spirit of
Law.

NEW YORK. Aug. eo-The directors Of
the Standard Oil company issued a PAM
phlet to its employees and stockholders
relative to the fine of s29, $4,000 imposed on
the Standard OH company of Indiana The
pamphlet contains a statement from Presi-
dent Moffltt OF the Standard Oil company
Of Indiana and a number of editorial ar
ticles favorable to the company, taken from
various American newspapers. The note
worthy feature Of the pamphlet is as fol-
lows:
The directors of the Standard Oil COM
pany desire to emphasize the assurance
wrongdoing in any of the prosecutions
lately instituted against 1t In the federal
courts. Particularly ts this so In the Chi
torlous by the sensational fine Of S2S,24o,OOO.
1t should be known as widely as possible
that this is no case of rebate or discrimi-
freight rate. 1t should be known that the
verdict was obtained by the government
upon the most hair-splitting technicality,
aided by the rigorous exclusion of evil
dence that would have removed all pre-
sumption of guilt.
III the judgment be allowed to stand the
company will be forced to pay fifty times
the value of the oil for every carload
carried over the Alton road during the
TWO years at an open scent rate-a rate
used over three competing railroads, for
from ten to fourteen years. The trial Judge
refused to allow proof that the 6-cent rate
was a legal rate. He insisted that IS cents
was the only legal rate for oil when no one
had ever paid It, and when 1t was author
tatively sworn that II did not apply to oil.
To the higher courts we must look for
that calm judgment which will rescue the
rights of the citizen from the fel(.,Sf pub
lie clamor and from the domain of vindica-
tive politics.
Charge of ColIusion.
So persistent and adroit has been the
"a Nj xnrttk all
authority of the federal administration
against the Standard OIL company that It
has been manifestly dificult to get a fair
portion of the press the latter, to its great
harm, swayed alike by socialistic outcry
from below and political pressure from
above.
As proof of the latter it may be noted
that In the presidents message Of May 4.
1903, attack was made on the Standard OIL
company for the purpose Of forcing the
passage of the bill remitting the duty on
denatured alcohol-a measure in which the
company was not interested. On May II,
1905, the issue of Commissioner Garflelds 5
report on petroleum transportation, tis-
sue of old misrepresentation was timed
fore congress. On May 20, while Judge
Lands had still under consideration the
Judgment In the Chicago & Alton case,
Commissioner Smiths illogical and partisan
report on pipe lines was maze public The
commissioners second report on petroleum
prices and profits-a wholly false deduction
tIOii lhSOhpiSto IaSNS was SeAl III duNdnCe
to the press for publication on August 8
in the knowledge that Judge Lands would
pronounce Judgment August g. Here surely
is evidence o ia combination influencing
all sources of public opinion, disturbing the
orderly disposition Of Justice sanctioning
in advance and supporting when made the
sensational opinions and judgments hostile
to the company.
What motive underlies the campaign of
defamation need not here be discussed, but
for all, friends and foes and II is reiter-
ated that the Standard OIL company is car
rying on widespread business of great
moment to the prosperity Of the American
people In absolute obedience to the sound
est principles OF business and to the spirit
and letter of the law Attacks upon It of
the kind described are aimed at the ma
tons industrial and mercantile life.