Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-11-24
D|SCLA|MS
PARENTAGE OF
THE OCTOPUS
JOHN ID. GIVES THE CREDIT TO
MESSRS. FLAGLER AND DODD.
ARUoUs DAY ON THE STAND
FOR THE OIL KING.

New York. Nov. 24.-The oil
king on yesterday In the nvestiga-
tion of the standard, denied the pa
rentage of the octopus. 'bu. gave
credit OF its creation to the genius
OF Henry NJ Flagler and Samuel C..
L. Dodd.
To these two master architects OF
the oil combine. MIR. Rockefeller
gave full cred t. saying that he did
not possess the abil ty OF so pro-
gressive n move.
Mr.. Rockefeller spent an arddous
day on the stand under the inces.
SAINT questioning of Frank b. Kel-
logg, the government counsel, when
adjournment was taken until today
gave every evidence of delight Tia At
the day was done.
WILL TRY TO FIND TRANSFER
BOOKS.
Frank B. Kellogg, who with other
government inves igators has been
endsavoring for over year TO OBJ
tain the m So ng transfer books of
the Standard Oil Trust, sough.
through Mr. Rockefeller to find the
missing trail to these books, and
Mr.. Rockefeller promised to do
what he could to find them. Mr..
Rock efeller's examination carried
him through the period OF the Stan
dard oil Trust and the years of It's
subsequent qu .dation, which last
ed from 1892 to 1899.
Mr.. Rockefeller's memory a: times
was not clear on the definite de
tails OF this trust liquidation period,
and he told counsel that ne could
not recall many OF the incidents and
developments OF that time. During
the day Mr.. Kellogg developed
from Mr.. Rockefeller that early In
the industr al existence OF the StaH-
dard the presidents Of Two rail-
road companies, together with sew
eral railroad directors, were stock
holders in the oil combination.
After adjournment last night Mr
Rockefeller told an inqu rng audi
ence of reporters that there were
better things in the world than
making money, and since 1891 he
had been gradually retiring from
business. He added:
There is more important work
than making money, and there is
much for me to do. belong 20
the Brotherhood OF Man"
At the opening of the hearing,
Mr.. Rockefeller sad that he thought
there was an Increase In the stock
of the Standard Oil Company Of
Ohio. from $2,5OO,OOO 20 $500
900, in 1875.
How many railroad men did you
take into the Standard after 1872"
asked Mr.. Kellogg.
II cou'd not say" was Mr.. Rock
feller's response.
WAS w. H. Vanderbilt a stock
holder?"
II can't say definitely lie might
have been stockholder for a trr
fling amount"
did you not sign a paper on
March 10, 1875, requesting an in
crease OF cap tai stock as follows
wv. II. Vanderbilt, by J. d. Rocke-
feller, his attorney"
THAT may be; the paper would
be the best evidence"
L. Krffporey ,..t tk- 70.
that Amasa Stone, then president
OF the Lake Shore and Michigan
and Southern Railroad; s;illman
witt. a director OF the Lake Shore
and Big Four roads, and J. p. Han
dy, also a director OF the Big -Four.
were taken into the Standard OIL
Company the early days.
II should say that H. VI. Flagler
and S. G. T. Dodd should have the
credit am sure It was not /. j
am not so learned in legal matters
as thai do not claim any credit.
for Mr.. Flagler and Mr.. Dodd
should have full credit"
Mr.. Rockefeller said that the vari
Gus companies in the Standard Oil
trust agreement which was made in
1882 were merged as separate and
Independent corporations. Mr..
Rockefeller sa d that the total value
Of the thlrty-nine corporations in
cluded In the trust was approx
mately S7O.OOO.OOO. and that each
Of the stockholders named in the
trust agreement received certificates
for the amount OF stock OF subsldl-
ary companies which he owned.
DISSOLVED IN 1892.
lie said that the Standard OIL
trust was ssolved In 1892, in
obedience TO an order OF the courts
a majority Of the stocks held by
aF.