The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-17

IIOul fdSe.J
weeks for this day. D. r. Watson, of
Pittsburg, and John G. Johnson, of
Philadelphia, had been printing for the
Standard OILS battle on the final day
when Attorney General Wickersham
had been. delving into the intricacies
of the case with view of making the
final argument for the government.
Even more lawyers were crowded into
the little court room to listen to the
arguments than had been there on
either of the two preceding days of the
hearing. Every one of the sixty seats
provided for spectators was occupied
and three or four times as many wait
ed outside the court room for an op-
portunity to enter.
Mr.. Watson had as a task to con-
j vince the court, il possible, that the
| only act of alleged conspiracy or mo-
| nopoly before the tribunal was the
combining of corporations in 1889.
| This was the only act, the circuit
court of the United States for the east
ern district of Missouri had decreed
against, and as the government had
not appealed, he argued, the supreme
court could consider none of the other
alleged monoplistic activities talked
dDOuI ny OppOSlHS COUNSEL.
Question of Combining.
! Scarcely had Mr.. Watson taken up
the thread of his argument, that the
only question was the combining of
| 1899, when Justice McKenna inter
rupted: do you say there is be-
fore this court only the que stion of
combining?"
Nothing before or nothing follow.
| ing - rnDliod thp counsel
why did they decree the distribu
ton of this stock?' insisted Justice
McKenna
"Ah! that's what want to know "
said Mr. Watson. "They said they did
so because you ordered them to do sc
| in the Northern Securities case"
| Mr.. Watson then went on to argue
that the Northern Securities did nc
such thing. He commanded the atten
ton of the largest audience that has
crowded into the court room in years
fRules were broken and lawyers three
and four rows deep stood in the avail
able 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 u.s." insisted Jus
tice McKenna.
"Oh mol" 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 UT
other things the court did not pass on
Justice Harlan wanted to know il
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 OF
equity?" inquired Justice Harlan.
Mr.. Watson assured him it was Of
equity.
Justice White wanted to know il
Mr.. Watson had authority for such {
doctrine as he advanced.
| ''Oh, yes. / have three or four in
my brief"
Give me one; / want to see it now,
added the justice.
Certainly. can't turn it just now
but am not trying to dodge" explain
ed MIR. Watson.
Mr.. Understands smile developed
into full grown laugh.
I'll have one of my assistants finC
it." said Mr.. Watson. Just as his time
expired fifteen minutes later, he reaC
some citations.
Justice Harlan suggested if there
was a question of disputed fact the
court would have to go into the record
1T will take you six months, then
to read those 10000 pages" suggested
MIR. Watson.
Attorney General Wcikersham tool
up the closing argument of the gov
eminent.
Il can we'll understand the desire o
the defendants to cast the veil o.