Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-20
pEsPlre>.RuMoRs THE ADMINS
TRATioN WILL NOT DROP PROS
EcuTIoN OF STANDARD OIL.
DECISION IN ACTION NOW
PENDING EXPECTED SOON
Government Officials Feel Hopeful of
Winning Suit Begun at St. Louis
Result Awaited Anxiously as Power
of tho Government Over Corporations
is the Issue at Stake.
Especial correspondence.l

Washington, Aug. 20.-Departmen
of justice officials are looking toward
eagerly to the early decision of the
case involving the dissolution Of the
Standard Oil combination. 1t is ex-
pected the decision in this case will be
handed down in a month or six weeks.
This is the case begun in the United
states circuit court for the eighth cir
cult in consequence Of the determine
ton of President Roosevelt to smash
the Standard" 1t was submitted to
the court the middle Of last April. The
special counsel for the government,
Frank B. Kellogg, was hopeful at the
time the case was submitted that a de-
cision would be forthcoming before the
court recessed For the summer. No
decision was handed down, however
and there is reason to suppose that a
decision will be had not long after the
court meets for the fall term. 1t will
meet Sept. / and, while not knowing
definitely when the decision will be re-
turned, the department of justice Off
Gals think 1t likely it will not be de-
sumes Its sessions in the fall. It is, in
deed, not impossible that the case will
be passed on In less than a month.
Government Officials Hopeful.
The decision of the case will be fol-
lowed Immediately by an appeal to the
supreme court of the United States, no
matter which side wins Under the
law, the appeal will lie to the supreme
court and not to the circuit court of
appeals. No reason exists why the
controversy should not be fought thru
to a final decision in the supreme court,
the highest tribunal, before many more
months.
The government officials are ex-
tremely hopeful Of winning the suit be-
gun at ST. Louis. They are well-nigh
confident the decision will be in their
favor. This is the opinion of Mr..
Kellogg. who believes he has the Stand
ard beaten, and it is the opinion of the
government attorneys who have been
following the case. The suit was be-
gun against the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey to enjoin it as the hold :
ing company from holding control OF
the various corporations which go to
make up the giant combination em-
braced within the meaning Of Standard
OIL.
Sherman Law at Stake.
1t goes almost without saying that
ie the government should be beaten in
this case. in view of the showing made,
1t would be a paralyzing blow at the
Sherman law and at the power of the
government over great combinations Of
capital
Frank B. Kellogg, special counsel for
the government, has done a work of
huge proportions in making the fight
against the Standard. This may be
judged from the fact that the record in
the case consists of twenty-one large,
cloth bound volumes. The governments
brief in the case consists of three large
volumes.
More or less has been said Of the
disposition of this administration to
drop the prosecution of this and other
antitrust cases. No good reason exists
for the belief that the administration
does not intend % press the Standard
On case. On the contrary, there Is ever
reason to believe that the government
expects to win in the court below and
to fight the case thru without relenting
until decision is had in the supreme
court.