The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-24
Standard OiI and Subsidiary Concerns Must Get Out
 Of Missouri
HEAVY FINES ARE ALSO
 LEVIED UPON CONCERNS
Proviso Is Attached to Case of Waters Pierce Company That If 1t Obeys the Law 1t May Remain
 In the State.

Jefferson City, Mo-, December 23.- Declaring that the Standard Oil com pany of Indiana. the Republic Oil com pany of Ohio and the Waters-Pierce Oil company of Missouri had conspired and combined to monopolize the oil business in the state, the supreme court of Missouri today issued a decree oust- ing all three from the commonwealth and fined them $50,000 each.
 The decree against the Waters Pierce company is tempered by the proviso that it may continue in bus mess, if, by January Is, 1909, 1t can show to the court that it has taken steps to operate as an independent concern and has satisfied the judgment against it. The other companies are given until March l, 1909, to wind up their affairs In the state.
 The decision, which was unanimous on the part of the seven judges. is so sweeping that Attorney General Had ley and Governor Folk hail it as the end of illegal commercial combinations in Missouri, and the former asserts that in conjunction with the decision of the supreme court of the United will affect similar suits in other states.
 HadIey Will Enforce the Law.
 Attorney General Hadley who has prosecuted the Missouri case since it's inception in March, 1905, will become governor in less than month and then :, wgsl be charged with the enforcement of the decree issued today
 The attorney general followed up the promulgation by the court with a statement in which he asserted that attempts had been made to compromise the suit.
 At least three efforts have been made by attorneys for the oil com panies to get me to compromise the cases" he said T invariably told them that the ultimate decision must be made by the courts and refused their offers. It was intimated to me that the oil companies were willing to ac- cept a. good large fine and concede victory to the state. The propositions were never reduced to details but they were entirely legitimate and such as might be made in any other form of litigation"
 Abuses Must Stop.
 In coming to it's decision the court says:
 '.If such cases as these complained of are permitted to continue, untram- melled, it would be only a question of time until they would sap the strength and patriotism from the very foundations of our government over turn the republic, destroy our free in- stitutions and substitute in lieu there of, some other form of government"
 The principal indictments against the companies are
 That they have created and become members of pool, trust. agreement, conderation, combination, arrangement and understanding among themselves for the following purposes:
 T. To regulate, fix and control the price to be paid by retail dealers and others in the state of Missouri for the refined products of petroleum sold and offered for sale in this state.
 "2. To control and limit the trade in refined products of petroleum in this state
 Third, to mislead the public into the belief that they are separate and dis tinct corporations and pursuing an inde- pendent business as legitimate competitors in the purchase and sale of the products of petroleum
 Wrongful Acts.
 Tn explaining. how these wrongful acts were consummated the decision says:
 '.Prices for the products of petroleum, especially refined oils. Illuminating and gasoline, are fixed by the Waters-P Pierce