Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-16
STANDARD OILS DEFENSE.

THEIR stockholders which IS now pun
Ne property. having been printed In
great plumbers and distributed all over
the country. II Is devoted mainly 10
a review 81 the recent prosecutions,
and the fines assessed against the
company. and deals mainly with It's
alleged difficulty in getting a fair trial
In the courts, or a fair hearing be-
fore the public and through the press
That Is a fatal mistake to start with.
n Is an Indictment not only Of our
courts Of justice, but Of the American
press. aud the whole American people.
and will do more to inJure the repu-
tation Of the company in the eyes Of
the world than its worst enemies
could possibly do. For instance, u
says. "A large portion Of the press Is
swayed alike by socIaIistic cutlery from
below and political pressure from
above" Such complaint or criticism
IS not only uncalIcd for and without
Justification in fact, but IL also OK
tremely unwise because II Injuries the
cause which the writer Is attempting
10 uphold. Falsus in uno. falsus In
omnibus. If the president n direc-
tors of this great corporation viii as
sumo In us defence In one particular.
conditions hat we know to be false,
why should they regard II as unrea-
sonable In us To believe hat condi-
lions which they allege IN other par
tIculars are equally without founda-
tlan9
Apart from the eonstitutionally
yellow" contingent that attacks
everything unfortunately, the Amer
lean newspapers have. as a rule. treat
ed the oil trust very weli-conslder-
have treated II very lcnlently, with
marked fairness and moderation.
merely insisting thai It. IKE other in
situations. shall obey the iaw-and the
vast majority Of them have not been
eswayed" by any sinister influence
frnm above or below, nor by anything
beyond a legitimate purpose to buy
and sell the news. fairly and profit
ably. and To comment on public mat
tiers impartialiy,
In proof Of it, allegations regard
ing the Difficulty of obtaining "a fair
hearing" for the company, the adj
dress To stockholders cites v in
stances 81 government reports on
standard oil affairs. al Of which we're
made public while legislation was
.m.a4E.. ..E4.N w.AANNH ~. NAnsangnA Er
them. or while there were cases pend
ing in court, the decisions Of which
might he effected by them. Here.
surely" II IL argued. rs evidence %
a combination influencing all sources
Of public opinion, disturbing the or
DERBY dlspensation u Justice, sanction
Ing la advance and supporting when
made the most sensational opinions
and Judgments hostile to the COM
pany" All that will impress the i'm
partial observer Of public events as
merely a piece Of highly wrought inn
a%gination. hut g. make no name
Of difference whether these reports
we're timed to "A nicely TO influence
legislation and court decisions. or
whether their appearance at such
times was purely accidental; the cir
%cumstanre has nothing whatever To do
with The case IN hand, which Is sim
piy the trial and conviction Of the
company for gross violation 81 The
United states law against Relating.
and the Imposition upon % therefor
81 fines aggreEating more than TWEEN
ts mine millions Of dollars That b.
the case that is being considered. and
whatever may have been done in 9TH
er eases Is entirely cxtrsneous. That
trial was regular and orderly and the
fines levied we're permissible under the
law just what induced the jury 90
render the verdict and moved the
Judge 10 Impose tho tine. ann Doe
proven. and Il is a sheer waste of
words to charge against h govern
mcnt and the courts any such combl-
nation ~ that alleged. and Il more
over 4 proceeding essentially puefiie
and undignlned
But with regard 10 the aueEatlon
which Is made in the address. o. The
effect that testimony vitality inpor-
tant io the company war Improperly
excludes that is q different, matter.
and one nat viii appeal effectively 3D.
the public sense ~ fair play. D. is
alleged thai his testimony for the
company. which was wrongfuily ey-
cludef would have broken down the
govrrnmeui's cas- entirely That of
cauue "a e. matter n the very arst
Importance and n the company can
make good its claim IN that respect
the higher court will reverse the yer
dIei The case has been taken on aF
pea. fa ne higher courts, and - them
aye Ite pamphlet ~ a look for
thaf eam Judgment which Nm RESCUE
are Hrhis q the citizen from the heid
81 pHalc ciamor. and from the do
maI1 n tinsciife politics
rhat 10 ssne laRicai and sensihle
an Il the Same spirit had perssdea
ths vhale address u weuid have Pot
the company IN = mneh better ught
before me America people b rae-
axnfae lh4 taes thAt 4 rleA spxeng.
deen. - weH - the poor offenders,