The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-12-01

X owner and manufacturer who is to-
s. day struggling for living.
X Is *
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.
It 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 a
sweeping affirmation of every conten-
ton urged by the government in it's
suit for the dissolution of the Stand
ard Oil Company of New Jersey, ''the
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-
e., is a conspiracy to strife, Or direct
ly and substantially restrict free COM
petition in commerce between the
states, and therefore is wholly ana
unqualifediy in violation of the law
under which the prosecution against
it 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
any of the companies of which it has
secured control; other companies are
enjoined from paying dividends to the
Standard and from allowing thell
stock to be voted by the Standard
all partnerships and agreements be
tween the Standard and other com
panies are ordered Cancelled; and thai
every act now being performed by the
Standard and it's affiliated companies
that tends to restrict OR stifle free
competition in commerce or to form
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 it's allies from hereafter
taking any steps, making any plan:
or forming any alliances, the effec
of extraordinarily or indirectly any o.
the things prohibited and declared il
legal by the courts findings in thu
case at issue.
Free Competition.
The decree declares the ownership
by the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey of the stock of all the othe
corporations to be illegal, and pro
the various corporations by the prin
cipal company. 1t also prohibits an.
[ of the defendant corporations, or thu
individuals, from accomplishing thu
same purpose of placing the cOntro
of the same corporations, or any twt
or more of them in the hands of an.
trustees, persons, or corporations
from managing or operating them to
gether or in harmony, or from maxim!
any express or implied agreement on
with the other for the purpose of con
trolling the management of the col
porations or the prices of petroleum
and it's products or the rates of trans
portation; and it prohibits the dc
PENDANTS from engaging in any inter
state commerce while the combination
continues. This, if sustained, will en-
all combinations to control business
and will restore competition through
out the country, and will protect tn
independent manufacturer who is tC
day struggling for living.
Startling Figures.
It appears in this case that TIL
Standard Oil is the most gigantic COZ
poration in the world. On an origina
investment of $69,000,0OO, the Stand
ard Oil Company has paid in dividend
since the organization of the Trus
down to and including 1906, $54S,436
436.S7, and at the end of 1906 had
surplus of over 1851 100000 on it
books 1t has actually earned on thi
investment of $69,0O0,000 over $1,000
OOO, 900, and during the last few year
has earned over 100 per cent. pc
annum. These profits have been mad
principally in this country, as the fol
eign companies have made much les
profit than the companies doing bus
ness in America. Some OF the Amer
lean companies, like the Standard Oi
Company Of Indiana.-one Of the pril