The Irish standard., 1909-11-27

Vdy oSIuSStIIS III 'IVIIIS.
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senator Cushman X. Davis. Mime.
sofa may rightfully feel proud of the
part her illustrious sons have borne
in this gigantic contest to overthrow
the greatest octopus In the worlds
history.
Roosevelt Starts the Fight.
1t was three years ago that Presi.
dent Roosevelt summoned the brilliant
Minnesota lawyer, Frank B. Kellogg,
before his cabinet and gained his con-
sent to conduct the assault in the
greatest legal battle ever contested in
this country, and which resulted last
Saturday in the decision of the United
States court Of appeals that is
sweeping affirmation Of every conten-
ton urged by the government in its
suit for the dissolution of the Stand
ard Oil Company Of New Jersey, tho
greatest trust in the world"
The opinion of. the court, written
by Judge Sanborn, sustains the con-
tentions of the government in every
point and in full detail. 1t reviews
the origin and history of the Standard
Oil Company, showing the wizard-like
financial operations Of the master
minds that conceived and executed
the plans for the organization and
points out plainly the particulars in
which such operations have been In
violation of the law and contrary to
public policy. The court holds that
the combination as formed and operat.
ell is conspiracy to strife. or direct
ly and substantially restrict free com.
petition in commerce between the
states, and therefore is wholly ana
unqualifiedly in violation of the law
under which the prosecution against
1t was instituted,
The Sweeping Decree.
Having found the defendants guilty
of the charges brought by the gov.
eminent, the courts decree is a sweep
Ing order designed to end the abuses
which have so long obtained. The
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey
is enjoined from voting the stock of
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secured control; other companies are
enjoined from paying dividends to tho
Standard and from allowing their
stock to be voted BY the Standard;
all partnerships and agreements be-
tween the Standard and other COM
panies are ordered cancelled; and that
every act now being performed by the
Standard and its affiliated companies
that tends to restrict or stifle free
competition in commerce or to form
q monopoly in control Of the, petro-
leum business OF the nation is en-
Joined and prohibited. The decree al.
SO directly and explicitly prohibits the
Standard and its allies from hereafter
taking any steps, making any plans
or forming any alliances, tho effect
of teitherdriectly or indirectly any or
the things prohibited and declared H.
legal by the courts findings in the
case at ISSUE
Free Competition.
The decree declares the ownership
by the Standard OIL Company of New
Jersey of the stock of all the other
corporations to be illegal, and pro.
hibits the exercise Of any control over
the various corporations by the prin-
cipal company. 1t also prohibits any
OF the defendant corporations, or the
individuals, from accomplishing the
same purpose of placing the control
Of the same corporations, or any two
or more of them In the hands Of any
trustees, persons, or corporations,
from managing or operating them to.
gether or in harmony, or from making
any express or implied agreement one
with the other for the purpose Of con.
trolling the management Of the cor.
porations or the prices Of petroleum.
and it's products or the rates Of trans.
portation; and 1t prohibits the dc.
PENDANTS from engaging In any inter.
state commerce while the combination
continues. This, il sustained, will end
ell combinations to control business,
and will restore competition through.
out the country, and will protect the
Independent manufacturer who 10 TO-
day struggling for living.
Startling Figures.
! It appears in this case that the
Standard Oil is the most gigantic cor.
poration In the world. On an original
Investment of $es,ooo,ooo, tho Stand.
ard OIL Company has paid in dividends
since the organization Of the Trust
down to and including 1906, $64s,436,-
1861, and at the end Of 1905 had .
surplus Of over 100000 on it,
books. It has actually earned on this
Investment Of 36s, 100000 over $1,000.
100000, and during the last few years
has earned over 100 per cent. per
annum. These profits have been made
principally in this country, as the for.
eign companies have made much less
profit than the companies doing bust.
ness in America. Some Of the Amer
lean companies. like the Standard OIL
Company Of 1ndiana,-one Of the priu.