Willmar tribune., 1909-12-01

sweeping duTWat1OQ Oh every COQIe0-
tion urged by the government in its
suit for the dissolution OF the Stand
ard Oil Company Of New Jersey, "the
greatest trust in tho world"
The opinion Of the court, written
by Judge Sanborn, sustains the con.
tentions Of the government in every
point and In full detail. It 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 tho 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.
ed is a 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
it was instituted.
The Sweeping Decree.
Having found the defendants guilty
of the charges brought by the gov
ernment, 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 1t has
secured control: other companies are
enjoined from paying dividends to the
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
a monopoly in control Of tho petro-
leum business Of tho 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. the effect
Of teitherdriectly or indirectly any or
the things prohibited and declared IL.
legal by the courts findings in the
case at issue.
Free Competition.
The decree declares tho ownership
by the Standard OIL Company Of New
Jersey Of the stock Of all the other
corporations to be illegal, and pro
h1b1ts tho exercise of any control over
the various corporations by tho prin.
cipal company. It 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 tho purpose Of con.
trolling the management Of the cor.
porations or the prices Of petroleum
and its products or the rates Of trans.
portation; and It prohibits the de-
PENDANTS from engaging In any inter.
state commerce while the combination
continues. This, If sustained, will end
all combinations to control business,
and will restore competition through.
out the country, and will protect the
Independent manufacturer who is to.
day struggling for a living.
Startling Figures.
1t appears in this case that the
Standard Oil is the most gigantic cor
poration In the world. On an original
investment Of $69.o00.000. the Stand
ard Oil Company has paid in dividends
since the organization of the Trust
down to and including 1906, $54s.436,-
436.S7. and at the end of 1906 had a
surplus Of over $2e1, 100000 on its
books. It has actually earned on this
investment Of SIS, 100000 over $1,o00,.
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
tcan companies, like the Standard Oil
Company Of lndiana.-one Of the prin.
cipal subsidiary companies ,-on q to.
tai capital and investment Of $1,000
900 has earned 10000, 900 per annum;
In other words, 1061.6 per cent. and
has surplus Of over $24, 900, 900. The
Combination controls from IS to 81
per cent. Of the various branches OF
the petroleum business In the United
States. and practically all Of the lubri.
cating-oil business Of railways. It has
directors In all the leading railways Of
the country, and 1t Is I dominant force
In the country's financial institutions,
No Political Significance.
The Standard OIL victory is sup,
posed to make Mr.. kellogg q candi.
date for the United States Senate
When asked relative to this posstbil.
ity. he declined to be interviewed. II
have absolutely nsthing 20 say about
that he said. Il am not prosecutin,
the Standard Oh case for political ef
feet but as lawyer for the Govern
ment."
Judge Sanborn's Opinion
The nature Of the case and the char.
acter OF Tho decision apDeas from shs