River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-04-08
STANDARD OIL IN
BATTLE FOR LIFE
Giant Trust and Government
Lock Horns To-day.
LAWYERS BEGIN ARGUMENTS
Attorneys for the Mighty Combine and
Federal Counsel Start Argu-
ments Before United States
Court in ST. Louis.

st. Louis, Apr. 5.-The full bench Of
four judges, comprising the United
States circuit court of this district,
began to-day to hear arguments in the
cases in which the United States gov
eminent seeks the dissolution of the
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey,
involving an Interpretation of many of
the phases of the Sherman act.
The arguments in behalf of the gov
eminent will be made by Frank B.
Kellogg of st. Paul and former United
States Attorney G. B. Morrison of
Chicago. The oil corporation is repre-
scented by John G. Milburn of New
York, Moritz Rosenthal and John S..
Miller of Chicago; David T. Watson,
of Pittsburg and John G. Johnson of
Philadelphia.
Great Mass of Evidence.
Seldom, If ever, has such a mass of
evidence been compiled in a single
case. The record, including the ex-
hibits, already exceeds 100000 words,
all taken by one stenographer, Rob-
ert S. Taylor of st. Paul.
Printed, the evidence is more vol
set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The major portion of the testimony
was taken in New York City, John D.
Rockefeller and John D. Archbold,
having been among the many notable
witnesses called to the stand.
So large is the record that even a
perusal of it's digest by the court is
impossible and much will depend on
the summaries presented by the at
torneys of the respective sides.
It is expected the court will grant
each side about five days for final ar
gument, which far exceeds the usual
time allowed.
Hearing of Great Importance.
The hearing is one of the most i'm
portant and far reaching civil actions
that has ever been tried in this coun-
try.
The bill of complaint, on behalf of
the United States, charging violation
of the Sherman antitrust law, was
filed in November, 1906.
The Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey, the parent organization, to-
gether with it's various subsidiary cor
porations, and seven individuals
John d. Rockefeller, William Rookie
teller, Henry M. Flagler, Henry H.
Rogers, John d. Archbold, Oliver Fl.
Payne and Charles M. Pratt-are
charged with having entered into an
agreement, combination and conSpira-
cy with one another to restrain trade
and commerce in the purchase of pc
troleum, in the shipment and trans
portation of petroleum by pipe line,
by steamship and by rail, in the manu-
facture and refining of petroleum and
in the distribution, sale and shipment
of the products of petroleum.
The United States seeks perpetually
to enjoin the defendants from doing
any act looking to the carrying out of
the alleged combination or conspiracy
and to dissolve the Standard Oil COM
bination.
About 400 Witnesses Heard.
Franklin Ferriss of st. Louis was
dppOllLCCu ny CnS COuIC DIS SpOCldl CA
aminer, and before him the testimony
in the case was taken. Beginning on
September II, 1907, hearings were
held in New York, Washington, Chi
cago and Cleveland, at intervals and
on various dates. The government
concluded its testimony on January
Fl, 1909. About 400 witnesses were
examined, approximately 200 appear
ing for each side.
The issue is SO important that,
whatever may be the result of the
trial before the circuit court, the case
certainly will be appealed to the
United States supreme court