Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-17
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENSE
PLEADS FOR CORPORATION
Contest Between Opposing Sides Be
fore the United States Supreme
Court is Memorable One-Compa-
ny's Lawyer Interprets New Doc
trine of Potential Competition.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., March 10
The dissolution OF the Standard Oh
is now a question for the Supreme
Court OF the unned states TO Grapp'e
with alone The final argument OF
tho famous suit to dissolve the Stan
dard Oil Company of New Jersey, as
a conspiracy and a monopoly in viola-
ton of the Sherman anti-tru"t law
was made today and the court TOOK
the matter under consideration.
Tho third days contest of counsel
before the court was nemofaoie
one, not only because of the arsn-
ments made. but also because OF tne
interest manifested in the proceed
ings both on the part OF attorneys
and the people. Rules OF the court
prohibiting spectators standing in It's
presence were swept aside. and mem
hers of congress stood around the
wall of the room. Not in years nave
so many persons been packed into the
little chamber. 1t fell to Attorney
Gen eraI Wickersham, on the side OF
the government, and John G. Johhsoh'
for tie defense. to make the closing
remarks. In addition, d. I. watson
another Standard OIL counsel, ad-
dressed the court earlier in the day
Standards Past Record.
Mr.. Wickershan tainted his oppo-
nents with drawing the veil OF opll-
vion over its past.
He spoke of that past as contain
ing a national scandal which the
courts and the legislatures were cali
ed upon to PCT down. Somewhat eN-
tendedly he emphasized the position
that the reorganization of 1899. gave
the Standard Oil a more soldihed
organization than IL possessed before
an organization which prevented the
subsidiary companies fiom becoming
competitors
He turned to the question OF what
constitutes a monopoly. In closing
he urged the court not u be in
nuenced by the cry that this proceed
ing was a blow directed at Business
because a cry had been made often
before and proven groundless.
Respects to keHo99.
The closing address by Mr.. Johnson
was partly a reply to Mr.. Wicker
sham Although the wolf may have
not comc at first, he told the court.
when il did come it was too late 10
cry. He paid his compliments to
Frank II. Kellogg. author of the peti-
ton of the government, flied IN the
Circuit Court of the United States
fer the Ia tern district OF Missouri.
and on which the decree of dissolu-
ton before the court for review was
based. Mr.. johnson told the court II
reminded him of the contents Ct the
witches caldion in Macbeth. In thai
il appeared to have been made up
Of collection from the scrap books
of disappointed oil producers and
agazinists-fcmale or otherwise.
The best part about it. he told the
court. was that il ended with prayer.
Interprets New Doctrine
Mr. Johnson interpreted what he
designated As the new doctrine OF
potcnfial competition as an attempt
10 require each invidiual to compete
with himself. Turning to another
phase OF the controversy he asked:
How on earth coTld We mOnoPOiize
the manufacture Of refined oil. when
We control only eleven per cent OF
the Grade oil output
But they complain that With our
enormous amour; OF wcalin Ne drove
our competitors oat 81 business" he
exclaimed Arc you going 90 con
duci business on the race track pfin-
cipie and put a handicap 20 the man
who Possesses wealth. Are you 20
ing 20 taboo wealth?
with sarcasm depicted on his fscc.
be- expressed his surprise that such
iniqu'iics a. had been complained 81
existed IN this country.
New Law 20 Require H.
We DO have pipe lines. h. shout
cd We do have engines and boilers
brit is that any reason Why OUT com
p.titors should ~ct heat and steam
from us7 There = no federal law
which requires that. thank God a. yet
am speaking 81 the present Your
houors NAV BE- called upon-not IN
ms lfctimc-io pass upon law
which says how much a man may
fgluffuurd on Fourth paral