The Washington herald., 1907-09-26
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2s. 1897.
More Standard OIL Troubles.

The Standard oil Company has by no
means heard the last Of Judge Lands.
Since the imposition of the big fine the
officers Of that corporation and its many
subsidiaries have gone about with an air
OF Injured innocence, and some Of them
have sought by means OF what would be
called In politics a literary campaign. 80
TO disabuse the public mind of its many
prejudices and misconceptions concerning
the operation of Mr Rockefellers be-
nevolent enterprise for supplying coal oil
10 the American people at rock bottom
prices. one of these literary efforts. un-
happily, has fallen into the hands of
Judge Lands. who finds its contents not
al all to his liking; particularly that
portion of it contributed by President
James A. Moffett. of the Standard Oil
Company Of Indiana, for the purpose of
showing error and injustice on the part
Of the honorable court. Mt Moffett un-
dertoOk 10 show that the courts inter
probation OF the evidence was hOpeIessly
wrong, but it We not that which at
tracted the attention Of the learned judge.
Standard was purposely selected as vic
tim out of a host of shippers who were
guilty Of the same practices. Thousands
of tons Of freight have been shipped,
says Monett. from Whiting, Ind. where
The Standard has immense rehneTies. "un-
der the same circumstances as the Stand
ard shipments, and if the Standard is
IN, -
every shipper in this great manufacturing
territory"
Well, If Mr.. Moffett knows any such
thing, he viii have to make good. Judge
Landis has summoned him to appear be
fore the grand jury TO tell what he
knows about rebaung in the neighborhood
Of Whiting. Ind. The learned judge viii
not permit it to be said Of his court that
II makes fish 'of one trust and fowl oi
another. II Mr.. MOffett is put out be
cause his concern has a monopoly Of the
biggest judicial fine ever imposed, he viii
now have an opportunity 10 let some OF
his neighbors in on the ground floor. and
10 give information that will lead to a
more general distribution Of the extreme
penalty. We see no reason why the
Standard should enjoy a monopoly OF
guilt. and we hope Mr. doffett vii
cheerfully aid the court in breaking w
that monopoly.
We have no doubt either. that Judge
Lands desire TO scatter a few more
big fines among the business community
will have the cordial support and assist
ance Of that eminent jurist and penolo
gist. Attorney General Bonaparte, who's,
graceful. deferential, and erudite plea fOl
immunity to the Alton. as worthy tn,
same mercy which the humblest ant
most criminal accOmplice may acquire by
telling the truth" contains an expression
of the department. earnest wish Il
cooperate heartily and effectively witt
the judiciary in the admirable purpos,
10 bring to justice as speedily as pos
sible all offenders, whether individual O,
corporate, against the statutes regulating
interstate commerce" We shall look 10,
some tremendous scurrying of the Grim
inals yet at large in and around Whiting
Ind. whose unTighteous d0ings were un
luckily exposed, in moment Of piqUe
by the president of the Standard Oil Com
pany Of Indiana. He has "squealed," a
they say IN the world Of graft, an,
Judge Lands has a notion that he car
be made 10 squeal again. Perhaps b,
telling the truth be may be able to gaii
some Of that immunity which has Jeel
so lavishly handed out TO the Alton,