New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
STANDARD OIL REPORT.
Timely and Cogent Comments on
the Subject.
70 the Editor Of The tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial to-day on the above subject
hit some very important nails sQuarely on the
head. You comment properly upon the fact that
much is said about the past and very little about
the present" and you add. at is of less interest
TO inquire into the past methods OF the Standard
Oil Company than determine whether those
methods are stu being pursued" There is another
reason for not furnishing corporations for past
4. methods which. If they have not been winked at
by past administrations certainly not pro-
ceeded against under the laws. and il Hes in the
fact that the present ownership is not identical
with the ownership Of the shares Of stock years
ago. II the methods Of the past were wrong many
of those who were guilty of them have disposed
of their holdings. Many of those. for example who
now own United States Steel stock had nothing to
do with the watering Of that stock by which the
promoters prof1ted Widows and orphans. igno-
rant even of the facts. Standard oil stock.
United States Steel stock and Others while those
who may have been guilty of corrupt practices
have sold out long under lax administration
OF laws OF which Judge Parker, the late Demo-
plenty which needed only to be enforced
AS to destructive competition, all competition Is
stupid competitors. Never was a maxim more
fesPSas9 3 FOR mistaken opinion than Competiton
Is the life OF trade and in your editorial you
rightly say, 1T is quite beside the real issue to
which are inherent in any system of free compeu
2 the the OF o
papers. etc This is i' dTeadfG This s' is charSS
teristio. of course, only of the Standard oil
o?dhsr It is said the standard has not
6eyed rebates IN recent years nevertheless 1t has
rates. Why did not the commission ind out what
know. nor does 1t appear from the report whether
lower rates were made to the Standard oil because
between a discrimination in favor OF wholesale
shipments which can be more economlGally han
tail prices recognized every day by individual
grade the prices according 10 the size Of shipments
for all consignors?
With like Indebtedness, the report states, the
testimony shows that the Standard at one time. II
obta3nip 49, .uild 10 the pUfpo5e OF
again. the owner OF the competing company Che
name" This IS the every day with individual
traders. Mr., Clafn, for example, bought out the
himself Which are nobody eIse's business conducts
store has been formdab competaor to 5ars%
small ones because he Is able 10 sell larger Quant-
ues OF goods under the same roof. without proper
Honate increase OF clerical expense rent and other
r: 1SG Cmarges 10 law could prevent this. nor
MgguId many or his customers wish 20 pay higher
prices 10 smaller dealers. II is grave question
ample should have to pay oar moro See for Io s es
to some retailer on Sixth avenue who spends half
when he would he better employed. and perhaps
make more money. rs clerk In larger store
Inc true test from the community point OF view of
nae 4esitmacy Of large manufacturer or dealer
goods manufactured Of equal or better 9uaity than
.g are the prices lower than before? Are
t me "Srkkne99 or employees paid much more
ian oeIprS? AND do as many men get employ
"t az ueIofe' II these questions answered in
me me athTmative' how can the monopoly be an IN
jury 10 the community, all Of whose nerbers
si 1Sd pc considered and not few individuals?
me standard OIL Company manufactures a bot
yer OH and a safer oil than was manufactured nv
ne Ti several hundred small refners OF old times
tbhey sold It at 90 cents gallon by tho thousand
barrels; II can be bought to-day at IS cents a
saiIon by the quart. They employ ten times more
men than were employed before. who get better
wages, they manufacture by-productsS gasoleae
and by share OF the stock and DO in the partner
SNIP, u he regards II profitable II tho stand
srG u On COMPANY however. IS breaking any laws or
running any competitors by wicked methods IL
sh0ld OF course. be curbed IN such a course
1 90 not own dollar or standard on stock ana
never dld never met Mr.. Rockefeler. and have
no PERSONA interest In the matter from
general point or view OF a c!tize- There ia NO
room Tor socialism IN the United States OF America
Lakewood, y. J.. Jan 30 1907. + q NJ