Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-16

Miller, an attorney, or Immunity BATH
fame, that he must produce certain
evidence in order that Judge Lands
might know what sums would consti-
tute just and equitable fines in the case
wherein the Standard Oil Company Of
Indiana had been found guilty by a
jury in federal court.
This jury had found the company In
question liable to a fine for having ae-
cepted concessions from the Chicago
and Alton railway upon no less than
400 counts, the fine in each of which
may range from $1,000 to $4,000. The
government contention has been that
the Standard OIL Company of Indiana
was in reality branch agency of the
Standard Oil trust, this concern hay
ing been the predecessor of the present
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.
The Standard Oil Company of In
diana is capitalized at $1,000,000 The
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
IS capitalized at $100,000000; hence if
the government can prove that the
New Jersey parent corporation is re-
sponSible for its alleged branch SO
much the more in equity might the
fines be upon the impregnable argu-
mcnt that the principal is responsible
for the acts of it's agents
AS Mr.. Miller and his confreres dis
played dillydallying tactics throughout
the proceedings and showed no inclina-
ton to produce the evidence Judge
Lands sought in order to assess the
fines, he decreed that the officers of the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey,
even including John ID. Rockefeller,
president. be subpocnaed and appear
before him.
But Mr.. Rockefeller has little to do
with the active management of the
business" argued Mr. Miller. 1T is
useless and Il burden to bring him here.
He is an old man. He is quite wealthy
He has II great many financial hold
ings. and it will be hardship and diff
iicult for him to come here"
Fatal mistake aud pucrile argument
for an Old fox like John Miller to plead
before Landis
This court makes no distinction SO
far as its process goes against either
q wealthy or Il poor man. said Ian
dis simply, cOldly, slowly. 1T is in
conceivable that a president at the
head of one company should not know
whether that company owns another
one, and that is one of the things |
want to find out
Il want Mr. Rockefeller here to find
out from him. if possible, that thing
and others he may he able to tell. If
| the Witnesses see fit not to answer my
questions. they will be given all the
chance they want to refuse in open
/ court. These subpoenas will be served
I shall not interfere with the service
| on any of them"
Simple English. short words. straight
from the shoulder Anglo Saxon, And
TO Il remark of Mr. Miller which APP
preached dangerously to contempt OF
court. to the effect that the issuing OF
subpoeuas for Mr. Rockefeller and Mr.
: Rogers b0rdcTed on mere sensation
alism anyway" on the part of the dis
! trict attorneys office. Judge I.andis re
| tortCd:
/ Il alone am responsible for this ac
/ ton. l want the information | have
| asked for. and l intend TO have ii. II
| should have been forthcoming before
| this time without all this trouble"
| Such man Is Judge Lands, and Il
may I've that the American people vii
| hear and see more of this man. Al
| any rate, the great mass of the Amer
| lean people are pleased with the spec
| tacle OF n judge who is unwilling t.
! toady or play the sycOphant to the
| wealthy. even the wealthiest man If
! the world.
| Judge lands IS married. his wifi,
! having been Miss Winifred Reed 81
| Ottawa, H., Il sister-in-law of the
| late James II. Eckels