Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-03-16
GREAT BATTLE TO
DISSOLVE THE OIL
TRUST ENDS TODAY
Attorney-General Wickersham
Makes Final Plea Before
U. S. Supreme Court.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-The clos |
over the dissolution of the Standard
Oil trust are being made this afternoon
In the Supreme Court of the United
States. By 4:30 o'clock the last word
will have been said by contending
counsel, according to arrangements
made Monday, and the entire case will
be before the high tribunal for final
decision. How long the court will take
to consider the question no one pro-
fesses to know, but many are guessing
that the decision will not be an
nounced earlier than the first or the
middle of May.
Three of the greatest lawyers in the
United States had been preparing for
weeks for this day. D. 7. Watson. of
Pittsburg, and John G. johnson, from
Philadelphia, had been printing Tor the
Standard Oils battle on the final day,
while Attorney General Wickersham
had been delving into the intricaeies of
the case with view of making the
final argument for the government
Mr.. Watson had begun his argument
late yesterday. One of his tasks was
to convince the court, If possible, that
the only act of alleged conspiracy or
monopoly before 1t was the combining
of corporations in 1899. This was the
only act the Circuit Court of the Uni
ted States for the eastern district of
Missouri had decreed against, and as
the government had not appealed, he
argued, the Supreme Court could con-
slider none of the other alleged mon
opolistic activities talked about by OPP
posing counsel.
Scarcely had Mr.. Watson taken up
the thread of his argument of yester-
day to the effect that the only question
before the court was the combining of
1899, when Justice McKenna inter-
rupted:
do you say there is before this court
only the question of combining?" asked
the justice.
Nothing before or nothing follow
ing" replied the counsel. "The lower
court put the case purely and simply
on that fact"
"Why did they decree the distribu-
ton of this stock?" insisted Justice Nc
Kenna.
said Mr. Watson. 'They said they did
so because you ordered them to do SO
in the Northern Securities case"
Mr.. Watson then went on to argue
that the Northern Securities case did
no such thing. He commanded the at
tention of the largest audience that
has crowded into the courtroom II
years Rules were broken and lawyers
three and four rows deep stood in the
available room.
In a few minutes Mr.. Watson was
brought back to the questions before
the court.
"Do you mean that the facts recited
| in the decree by the Circuit Court are
the only ones before us?" insisted JUS
tice McKenna.
"Oh, no." said Mr. Watson.
! Attorney General Wickersham was
nodding his head and smiling. Mr..
Watson explained as the government
had not appealed from the finding of
fact in the opinion and in the decree,
] he held it was too late now to bring up
other things the court did not pass on.
Justice Harlan wanted to know if he
was arguing that the court was not to
| go into the record.
| "You are rule unto yourselves re-
piled Mr.. Watson.
"Have you been talking about law or
eouity?" inquired Justice Harlan.
! Mr.. Watson assured him it was OF
equity.
Justice White wanted to know if Mr.
| Watson had authority for such doc
trine as he advanced.