Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-16
Virgil Kline's Statement.


"'Cleveland, Ohio. October 6, 1905.
Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, Cincinnati
my Dear Sir: am just In receipt OF
yours of the 9Th instant. asking me to
write you in regard to your employment,
with PERMISSION to use my letter. II occa-
sion should seem to require. With that
request l am glad to comply.
LIN December, 1893, at the time you
we're employed by me, there was pending
against the Standard Oil Company in the
supreme court OF the state Of Ohio very
serious and difficult litigation. A pro-
ceeding in contempt had been instituted
company with having willful!y violated
the order Of the supreme court directing
it to withdraw from the trust agreement.
The company had answered, issues been
made up and considerable volume OF
testimony taken. -.
There was also pending against the
Buckeye Pipe Line Company proceed
ing in quo warranto, charging 1t with
being a member Of a trust. In violation
of the antitrust laws Of the state; also
q like proceeding against the Ohio On
Company and the Solar Refining Com
pany, and one Of a like character at that
time, l think, threatened against the
Standard Oil Company of Ohio, and which
was brought In January, 1899. These
were so-called constituent companies OF
the Standard Oil trust
These bills in quo warranto were all
filed in the supreme court, and asked for
the revocation of the charters of the said
several corporations, the appointment OF
critics and the dissolution of the various
companies. Many millions of dollars OF
property were thus involved in the iitt-
cation already pending. and much imper.
He'd, in addition to the other litigation
threatened.
Sought Forakaer's Advice.
LIT was in the midst OF these difficult
cases. with the very serious consequences
incident to any adverse decision, that.
with the approval Of myclient. turned
to you for assistance and advice.
The Standard Oil Company Of Ohio
had endeavored in good faith to comply
with the order of the supreme court. The
trust certificate holders had by a reso-
luton. passed at meeting held in New
York in March. 1892 determined not only
that the Standard Oil Company of Ohio
should withdraw from the so-called trust
agreement, but that the trust iself should
be dissolved and the trustees had entered
In good faith upon the policy Of a dis
solution and q winding up of the entire
trust.
MANY practical difficulties presented
themselves. as the trust certificates. of a
par value Of more than ninety-seven
millions of dollars. were held everywhere
throughout the country, had been invested
In by savings banks and trust companies,
had passed from hand to hand in the
market for ten years. were held in large
and small amounts. and the effort to give
the trust certificate holders a legal in
terest in the stock of the various COM
panies that had formerly been In the trust
was one of great difficulty.
81 had. I remember a long converse
ton with you when I first met you in
connection with this business. Copies of
the pleadings in the contempt case were
shown you. and the substance of the
evidence already taken narrated. together
with the action Of the certificate holders
taken at the meeting and the course of
proceeding Of the trustees carrying out
the purpose of the resolution to dissolve
the trust, and q little later certified copies
OF the voluminous pleadings In the four