The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-14
10 Get Back the Thirty Million.

Th,s psner does not agree with the press
oenerally on the fine OF thirty millions OF
dollars. imposed on the Standard Oil Com
nonv nv Judge Lands OF the United States
Circuit Court.
In the first place, the conduct OF the presid-
ING Judges, heItered behind his bailifts and the
Nigh arm OF the Government, IN ABUSING
and brow.beating officers Of the Standard oil
Company, Ia unparalleled since the days oi
Jeareys of the "bloody assize" fame. Does
ANYBODY entertain a thought that the Stand
ard OH Company had q fair trial when inc
presiding Judge, who was supposed 10 hoia
the scales OF justice even handed, out'heroded
Herod In the prosecution.
That corporations, and especially trusls'
are eraspipg. and that they TOO often ROD tne
people there Is little doubt, and Since tney
cannot be reached except by lines, once 'ney
are trapped, the fines should be heavy. But
tho fine should NOT amour: to conhscatlon'
II "a pn,ust and is unwise. Unjust to nne a
corporation engaged in q legitimate business
in greater proportion than an lndl'louat gu
gagged In q legitimate business "nen ei'nei
has broken the law. 1t is unwise because ine
Superior Court realizing that the hne Is ou'
of all proportion with the ofense, Will not ie'
the verdict and sentence stand and the mofa'
effect will be worse than If tue fine had never
hean imposed. 1t is unwise, because the
offense was not against the people. Inc
naon,e are not interested II the railroads see
A, N carry Oil for the Standard free OF coal'
INIT should this fine stand, the people Will De
interested when they pay 1t in the Increased
nr,ce of oil. The Courts have struck tne
monster at the wrong place. Let Inc Coui.
an ,oin against the arbitrary advance IN vi
and they will reach the evil.
Th., the trust which arbitrarily advances
al "a az much an enemy to the laoorine
ma,ses "a the man who corners meat or hour
,bere ia no doubt, they are alike necessiues
hence when once 1t is caught IN 81 i'ieka''
act. OF whatever nature, 1t should Do heaN'''
rned. but not fined out OF all reason.
Now Mr.. Rockefeller is the stanoaroo vi
Company, however ignorant he may oe y
the acts Of his agents. Great nave oeen AZ
.,n, Int not as great as is the penalty Iof ns
aims The sympathy of his paper for MIN
no. haen aroused and 1t would suggest 70 MIN
the method OF recovering his thirty mih'on
dollars. u,,,,
This paper would suggest plan by WHICH
the OIL King can refill his Golfers and YET moi
.r,nd the " class OF people.
snot cotton is quoted in New York at about
70 Ia cents. Futures for Augustare seiling ~
sbout II l-2 cents, s difference OF about Z cenus
mar nound. This Of course Is the WORK OF tne
Gambler who is trying to hold down Inc
farmers product below Its legitimate price.
Now II Mr.. Rockefeller will, through ap
agent, buy up, say six million bales OF cotton
at the prices quoted by these gamblers sho
Al the same time buy q proportionate amoun'
~ cotton goods now on the market at pre-
vailins prices. he will for q certainty net no'
lea, than two cents per pound or ten DOLLARS
ner hale on the six million bales. Tbs Will
hiring him sixty million dollars, just twice
what the poor old man has been deprived o.
II his conscience would not permit MIN 10
pocket the entire sixty million ne mignt
sootbe his vound feelings with thirty MIL
lion and turn over thirty million 10 the
Farmers Union as q permanent una VIII
which to protect lis cotton growers 1rom
New York gamblers. A man OF Less means
Than Mr.. Rockefeller would be GROUND 10
powder by Wall Street but he can stand the
.,orm and al the came time render eVerlast'
ing and permanent aid TO the Southern
farmers in holding up the price OF thslr
oreatest product. Do II MIR. Rockefeller, AND
we will forget the nights we have SPENT ID
darkness on account Of the high price OF OIL