The Washington times., 1909-11-27
Former Secretary Denies
That Oil Decision Was
Barren Victory.
SUSTAINS REPORT
MADE BY HIM IN 1906
Points Out Features In Courts
Ruling of Peculiar Interest
To the Public.

CLEVELAND. Ohio, Nov. 27.-James
h GARFIELD, former Secretary Of the
INTERIOR made answer today TO the
recent statement Of John L, Archbold
the standard OIL magnats. relative To
the decision dissolving the Standa I'd
OIL Archbolds statement was as fol-
lows:
I believe that the decision will resuIt
In legislation looking toward the repeaI
OF the Sherman antitrust law, for uD-
DER that law It is almost Impossible for
practically any corporation to transact
business. for even cooperative partner.
ship may be attacked. ] believe the
officials at Washington are coming 70
the view that the law is too drastic and
that even Mr.. Roosevelt shares in that
opinion"
Mr. Garfields answer follows:
Garfeld's Reply.
Since the decision of the United
States Circuit Court OF Appeals uphold
ing the Government in its suit to dis
solve the Standard OIL Company, the
statement has been made that this is a
barren victory and merely proves that
the antitrust law is unsatisfactory. II
is true that President Roosevelt pointed
out The unsatisfactory condition OF the
present law and urged It's change, but
only on condition that before changes
were made the Government should be
given the direct, affirmative control
and regulation over Industrial corpora
tons similar to the regulation of rail
roads and other common carriers. Mr.
Roosevelt showed that TO amend the
sherman law and not TO provide other
legislation would be most unwise
Now, so far as this Standard oil case
is concerned, II is evident from pub
lished statements of the opinion that
the court sustains entirely the report
made as Commissioner OF Corporations
in 1905. which covered all questions Of
railroad discrimination, unfair competi
ton, methods Of control through sub
sidiary companies and the use of bogu:
companies and the general organization
OF the Standard OIL Company.
By Injunction.
"An these unfair methods are pro
hibited through injunction, their expo
sure viii help to prevent their repeti
ton. and IN addition, the court may nov
punish any person who violates its or
der.
The court sustains our contention
that the law seeks to prohibit the re
suits Of unfair competition and restrain
of trade, not merely the methods useC
TO obtain such results The injunction
is broad enough 10 hereafter reach any
device, no matter how clever. now In
direct
Another feature OF this decision i'm
portaut 10 the public Is that the Fedora
Government has shown that no cor.
poration, no aggregation Of capital, il
stronger than the United States and
that In the hands Of an efficient ad
ministration. the laws can be enforced
against even the greatest corporations
The Roosevelt Administration made al
attack on the Standard oil Company
because IVA because
was disObeying the law.
Fair Treatment.
For the first time in the history o
the oil business The independent oil
men are enjoying fair treatment from
the railroads and are relieved from
many Of the unfair methods OF cOmpeti
ton practiced by the Standard Oil Com
pany.
There IS no surer. fairer way TO pre-
vent monopoly than for the Government
to retain control over the resources o
oil. coal, water and mineral phosphate
left on the domain and provide for thei
development and use under lease an
subject 10 such regulation as viii inSur
Development when and where needed
prevent mOnOpOltzation. or speculativ
holding. prevent extortiCn from the con
sumner and return 20 the public a jus
compensation for their use.
The way TO safeguard the publ
welfare and 70 prevent TIE misuse o
such vital resources is % shut the doc
before the property IS lost or stolen.