Evening journal., 1909-04-05
RESUME FIGHT
ON STANDARD OIL
Final Brief in Governments
Case Filed at St. Louis
Today
"FATHER OF TRUSTS"
THE RECORD CHARGES

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
sT.LOUIs. Mo-. April 5.-Pomting out
graphically the shocking abuses which II
alleges have been proved by the testimony,
the final brief for the government in the
dissolution suit against the Standard Oil
Company. was filed to-day in the United
States Circuit Court here.
Although it bears the names OF Attor-
General wickersham. Charles B. Nor
rison, and c. A. Severance. in addition TO
those Of Frank b. Kellogg. and J. II.
Graves, the document is almost entirely
the work Of Kellogg and his assistant,
Graves. who, for tne past several years,
have been working untiringly in building
up a case so strong that the department OF
justice. and the administration feels can
not but result in the triumphant victory
for the Government. Oral arguments in
the case viii begin on Monday, That the
potency of the Sherman antitrust law
hangs in the balance, is clearly made
manifest. for. in summing up the facts
in the dangerous monopoly which it is
charged the Standard maintains, the gov
ernment's brief says:
There is no question that IL this court
holds the Standard OH Company to be a
legal organization, and not guilty of mo-
nopoly-in other words, gives It carte
blanche to pursue its own methodist can
eliminate every competitor inside of two
years. We do not wish to be understood as
discouHaging enterprise. or taking a posi-
tion against legitimate competition, but
II the Sherma9 act means anything In this
country. it means monopoly acquired by
such methods of competition as practiced
by this concern. Unless 1t is enforced. the
small corporation or individual who wish
es TO engage in business. will have abb
solutely no opportunity at ALL"
Hints at Confscation.
The government even hints at confisca-
tion OF the Standards products, il the
court is unable to grant the relief demand
ed. 1t declares that it has hesitated to in.
woke this drastic remedy. and doubts
whether any other of the remedies sug-
gested by the law are adequate to stop the
Entertainments OF such combinations, and
trusts.
other remedies have been tried. and
have failed" II says, "either the Sherman
| act should be repealed or IL should be en-.
forced in. a manner 10 make the people re.
/ speet II.
This testimony" continues the brief, -:
valuable as showing the intention of tn,
! Standard OIL Company TO monopolize thu
commerce in oil throughout the United
states. In many districts It has an abso-
lutte monopoly. We mean by absolute mo-
4 nopoly. that in those districts. 1t does al
the business, and has eliminated every
competitor. Practically this is the cast
! throughout the Rocky Mountain country
! and most OF the Pacific Coast states. The
percentage OF independent business
throughout the Southern States. is very
small Moreover. where there is compe
tition. the competitors are usually strict,
under the control Of the Standard. in thai
they must. In order to be allowed to Dc
business. sell oil at practically the price
the Standard dictates. and confine them
selves to a small percentage cf the trade
II we arc looking at the degree OF sup
! preston Of competition, no combination o.