The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-19
WONDERFUL GROWTH IF
 COMPANY FROM START
Trial of Standard Oil Man Draws Sig Crowd and In Testimony He Tells How His Property Grew Up
 From Small Start.

story with the air of country gentleman of kindly mien, engaging host of friends with incidents of days long past, John D. Rockefeller, president of the Standard Oi company, though for nearly 10 years retired from the active cares of the com panys direction, for over two hours to- day reviewed the history of the early oil trade and the development of the first companies that later grow into the present so-called oil trust.
 MT. Rockefeller was a witness for the defense in the suit to dissolve the Stand- ard which is being prosecuted by the United States government, and his ap- pearanee at the hearing before Judge Franklin Ferris, the referee, brought a large crowd to the customs building
 The head of the big oil combine was sur rounded by an imposing circle of counsel. and when he began his testimony he gazed complaoenty upon swarm of newspaper men, behind whom pressed close a threes of reople that filled the room. MT Rockefeller appeared at com plete ease. and when John G. Milburn of counsel for the Standard oil company h'oHSNAaNcN AAAo htSt quoSllOH, llt witness spoke out in full tones as if he desired the most distant spectator in the chamber { to hear Then. in a manner that fndi- cated a. pleasure at what he was about to 1 tell, MT. Rockefeller spoke of his start { in the oil business and how, under ad- 1 ve1s conditions. that business grew to i proportions of the Standard oil company | of Ohio, with its capitaiza tion of s1 .0O0O00.
 John D. Is Reminiscent. Mr. Roclkefeller's eyes sparlSled in re- 1eetion on that early financial organiza- tion, and speaking of it's s,OoeoOO eapital-
 izatiau with aluio-s hoylsh ersiiusiasm. h $
 said
 Tt seemed very large to us who began
 with only s400e ir 1892
 Thus the proceedings lost, in sense, their official aspect because of the engag- ing manner which Mir Rockefeller dis played in his answers, which now and then contained flashes of kindly humor A glow of health showed in MT. Rocke- fellers smooth-shaven face and to inquir- ing newspaper men he replied that he never felt better. The president of the i Standard was dressed in a plain business { suit 0 dark material and across his vest i was sus ended a heavy gold watch chain. 1 A dark urrle necktie in which a large pearl pih vas set snugged close to high i el collar.s
 1 The development of MT. Rockefeler's testimony today, which carried him to the or organization of the Standard oil of Ohio, indicated that one of the lines of the de- fense would be that the Standard Oil company is not the result of an aggressive policy to gain the mastery of the oil trade, as charged but the natural outcome of economical development which the exi- gencies of the oil industry demanded.
 Wonderful Growth.
 During a brief recess this afternoon MT. Rockefeller talked to the reporters of i the Standards growth. saying:
 What wonderful thing it has been the growth of this business. Tt all seems like a dream to me, and here am accused of doing the very wicked thirg of selling a good article at a lower price than any one else
 "rhs testimony here today brings back to my mind so clearly early days in Cleve- land. where we were all friends and neiehbores. How we'll remember that day in Ceveland when went into the bank of T. r. Handy, who afterward be- came one ef my dearest friends.
 "I wanted to borrow money, but did rot have any collateral. nor any one to indorse my note. I told him what want- ed tc do with it. and then he asked ms low much l wanted. T need $20oe. I said. and I got ft. To that loan I attribute whatever success I have had in life since"
 The taking of Mir. Rockefeler's testi- mony will be continued tomorrow.
 Testimony Begins. Former Judge Franklin Ferris mas ter of the proceedings had ordered that no spectators be permitted to enter the chamber. ara policemen posted at the door turned back an insistent throng that besieged the room where the testi- mony was being taken. MT Rockefeller had scarcely entered when his counsel motioned him to take the witness chair. The president of the Standard Oil company gave his testi- mony in a clear, resonant voice which could be heard all over the court room.
 MT. Rockefeller what is your full name?' asked Mir. Milburn. John D. Rockefeller" Where dc you liye?' My legal residence is this city, at No West Fifty-fourth street." What was your first connection with 1 the oil business?"
 | About 1860 or 1862, not earlier than 1 1880 nor later than 1862. I was quite l a young man, much younger than 1 am now"
 In reply to the question as to who l were associated with him in the oil | business in rhe beginning he gave the | name of Morris, James and Richard Clark and samuel Andrews. "A co-partnership was formed" said