The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-10-23
HADLEY, TRUST BUSTER" FALLS
VICTIM TO HIS OWN AMBITION.

HADLEY, TRUST BUSTER" FALLS
VICTIM TO HIS OWN AMBITION.
ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDERMINEs
HEALTH IN STANDARD OIL WAR.
-
The refusal Of Attorney General Her.
bert s. Hadley to accept the proffered
nomination Of the Republican party for
Governor. indicates the passing from the
public eye, at least, Of the young trust
buster at the conclusion Of his present
term Of office, II not before.
Through his relentless prosecution Of the
Standard Oil Company, and its subsidiary
concerns in Missouri, Attorney General
Hadley attracted the attention Of the en-
tire country. He BECAME almost the man
of the hour" two years ago when he lit
orally braved the oil magnates in their
New York dens and forced from their lips
confessions that resulted in dissolution
suits by many states, as well as by the
United States Government. Hadley's legal
encounter with Henry H. Rogers, the rec
ognized brains of the Standard Oil Com
pany since the retirement of John D..
Rockefeller as its active head, is now his
tory; but 1t will remain fresh in the minds
of those who followed Hadley's unrelent-
ing attack Upon the business methods of
this most powerful of all American indus
trial combinations.
Rogers famous "I-refuse-to-answer-on-
advice of counsel caused the country to
sit up and take notice, and the war of
brains that followed, ending in a complete
victory fer the young Missouri official.
earned him the plaudits Of the entire
United States.
AS has been said. it was upon the evil
dence literally pried from the stilled
tongues of Standard Oil magnates and at
tache3 by Hadley, that the state Of Texas
based it's gigantic custer suit against the
great monopoly, which, If successful, may
result in dissolving this corporation Of
billions.
Doubtless as a compliment to Hadley,
the Attorney General Of the United States
ordered the Governments custer suit in
stituted in the United States Circuit Court
at Saint Louis, where it is now pending.
In the presentation of their evidence the
Government counsel has followed in Had
ley's footsteps.
Traceable to his prosecution Of the
Observation-Disclosures archibald Pierce inter-
ests is Hadley's physical breakdown, which
has so alarmed his medical advisers that
they have prevailed upon him to set
aside ambition and seek to regain his
health in a new cline.
Practically unaided, except by his assist
ants, whose time was largely taken "
with other matters of Importance to the
State, Hadley waged his fight against the
so-ca1led oil octupus. Pitted against him
-ar tho hast 1aro1 ctov q tho WEALTHY oor.
porations could secure.
Demonstration, delay irritating and
nerve-racking-were the methods pursued
by the antagonists of Hadley in the suit
On one pretext and another the cast
dragged over a period of two years. Man,
cities in and out Of Missouri were visited
and It was during his return from a hare
legal battle in New York that Hadley con
tracted a cold that developed into pneu
monia and nearly cost him his life.
Upon his recovery the young officia
pitched into the case with renewed vigor
completing the presentation Of his evi
dence before the Supreme Courts specia
commissioner. preparing his voluminou
briefs with the aid Of his assistants. an
arguing the merits Of the prosecution 70
nearly two days against the oil concern
entire array of legal talent.
Unless an adverse decision is rendere
by the State Supreme Court Hadley ha
!. won his fight against the so-called O
combine, the special COMMISSIONS VIII
heard the evidence having sustained hi
every contention. and recommended tn
forfeiture Of. the charters of the severf
companies implicated in Missouri.
Herbert Hadley was indicted into tn
office that has broken his health by an ur
usual, even humorous circumstance Fl
had refused the nomination when It WI
offered to him. believing, as did all oth'
Republicans. that it would be but a hollo
honor, defeat being considered a c~ertaint
HadIey Nominated by Coup.
With the rest Of the Republican Sta
ticket, Hadley was nominated four yea
ago at the saint Joseph Convention. I'll
others were willing. Hadley unwilling.