Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-15
STRONG PLEA MADE FOR
CORPORATIONS LIFE
In Final Battle Against the Organiza-
ton in the Highest Tribunal OF the
Nation New York Attorney Argues
That the Concxn is Not in Viola
ton of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

(By Associated Press
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March II
The final fight for the dissolution OF
the standard Oil began this afternoon
before the Supreme Court Of the Unit
ed States when John Milburn, of New
York. spoke for three hoors in its De
Tense. He finishes tomorrow. me
remainder OF the day will be devoted
tomorrow TO the second step in The
contest, the reply of Frank b. nel'
losg. on the part of the government.
The hearing of the siit against the
Standard Oil attracted 10 the court
room members OF both houses OF con-
press. lawyers and spectators IRON
all sections of the country. 10 ear
what was to be SAID in the review oil
the decree Of the Circuit Court OF the
United States for the Eastern district
of Missouri. dissolving the Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey, as
conspiracy IN restraint of trade, as
monopoly in violation OF the Sherman
antitrust act.
Lays Foundation.
Mr.. Milburn's argument consisted
of the review Of the growth of Stand
ard Oil for the object of laying the
foundation for the claim that the cor
porations entering the reorganization
of the standard Oil Company OF New
Jersey, i'll S99. were nOn-competitive,
because for man. years they had
been under a so-called common own
ership.
He toll of the tremendous size of
the business of the oil company and
he explained how il had grown. ac-
cording TO his conception. He SAID
the large factors in this growth were
the building OF pipe lines which any
body had a right to build, and he
described the building Of lines and
the extending of the marketing facili-
ties throughout the country and the
entire world.
Need Power.
We compete abroad with great cor
porations, said he that are protect
ed and shielded by their governments
and compelled to combine SO that tney
may be powerful We have been able
70 meet them, because of our
strength"
Towards the c'Ose of the day he
entered upon a discussion of the Sher-
man antitrust act. After the discus
sion OF the general meaning of a mo-
nopoly he reverted 10 the alleged mo-
nopolistic conduct of the Standard Oh.
Mr.. Milburn said he did not believe
that the corporation was in restrain
of trade in view of the common own
ership. II has never restrained the
liberties or capital of any one who
has entered into it. nor any one VINO
was it's competitor, he asserted. In
stead OF being a monopoly, it was
urged by Mr.. Milburn. that the
amount Of business il was doing was
decreasing
Not in His Line.
Justice Harlan asked Mr.. Milburn
IL he would call an organization OF
men to buy all the coal lands in Penn
sylvaniS a conspiracy in restraint OF
trade and monopoly
Nv y trtibu gVh que = 'ht t+s"
cult Of solution. responded Mr.. Mel
burn.
He explained to the court that ne
was really getting ont OF his line Of
business IN discussing monopores.
I think YOU are IL your line SAID
Iusti-e White.
Finally Mr. MilbEia took mp the
charges Of moaopolistic conduct al
legged 20 have been shown b. trans
portation discrimination. Tie declared
the idea that railroads throughout rhe
country would discriminate in favor
Of a b-sircss that afforded only one
hair Of one per cclt Of the total iraf-
&c. Uss piepcsferoTs. Tie said the
government cries Of Tremendous oIs-
ordinations in favor Of the Stan1aId
OIL refining points AMI against .hc r.
dependent refining points. vas equal
" ridiculous.
No independent refining since iSs7.
he added. when the interstate com
merce act was passed. has complain
Cd 60 the interstate commerce com
mission o. Discrimination.
Unfair Competition.
he spoke Of tho siicEcd unfair con-
petition.
"Compeiiti1g docs not breed the
virtues said h.. The lower nature
that cones uppermost under ssch