The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-16

preme court of the United States.
late Monday afternoon. rendered what
Is held to De the most important and
far-reaching decision ever made by
any court in this country. when it
affirmed on every vital count the de-
cison of the lower court given No
vember 20. 1909. declaring the Stand
ard OH Company, of New Jersey, with
its allied branches and interests.
combination in restrain of trade in
open violation OF the Sherman Anti
Trust law. and ordered It's dissolu-
ton within six months.
The decision, which has been an
xiously awaited throughout the coun-
try for many months, means that the
greatest business and Industrial COM
hinaron the world has ever known
is definitely placed in the criminal
class and its continued existence In
its present form is prohibited. IL
means that the long fight Of the gov
eminent. began more than five years
ago. to curb this giant corporation and
compel II to live within the laws has
been won. 1t means that no further
legal technicaiity. no twist nor turn,
no delay nor device can avail the
trust now. There IN no appeal. The
decision is the first real and by long
odds the greatest victory won by the
government since il started upon its
policy OF enforcing compliance with
the law upon the part OF the lawless
com binations and began it's effort to
prevent ruthless restraint OF trade
and the crushing out of honest COM
petition.
1t undoubtedly marks another era
ia the industrial progress of the coun-
ny. 1t checks definitely the tendency
toward the monopoltzation and the
dangerous Capitalization OF the bust
ness of the United States and puts
limits upon the sway exercised by the
wealth Of the country in the hands
II a few men
Indicates Other Trust Blows
In Washington the decree is taken
as an unmistakable indication OF the
decision of the supreme court in the
Tobacco Trust case. which has been
pending before 1t almost as long as
the Standard OIL case, and in others
OF a similar character which the gov
eminent has instituted and which
have been gradually working their
slow and devious way along through
the lower courts to this one.
The decision to-day vas read ~
Chief Justice White and VAS con-
Cured in by eight members OF the
court, Justice Harlan alone dissent
ing and expressing his views in II
minority opinion.
The court room was crowded. rep
~esentatiyes of the government and OF
the trust and a senator or so, dis
tinguished lawyers and officials gath
cred inside while outside there was
an impatient crowd denied admission,
When the chief justice began to read
sne opinion the most intense stiffness
ensued. continuing from the first to
the last syllable OF the reading.
Held Not to Go Far Enough.
The decision goes 10 the very root
OF the case. II sheds an illuminating
light on the methods pursued bv the
Standard company and their results,
and il effectually dissoives that cor
poration. Fault is found. however.
with The majority decision by some
of the lawyers who have studied II.
because 1t does not go far enough. in
their Judgment In prohibiting all re-
straint OF interstate trade and all mo-
nopoiies.
The decision, IL is declared. while
satisfactory SD far as the Standard OH
Company is concerned. does not real
iy prevent the creation OF monopolies
in restraint of trade, but makes dis
tincsfon~ between good and fAef
trusts" allowing the right OF the one
Kind to exist and denying il TO the
other
The minority Of Justice Harlan
more nearly meets the Views of the
progressives OF the Republicans and
Democratic parties here. and they
would have preferred its enforcement.
although they do not minimize the
importance and far-reaching nature
Of the majority opinion as IL stands,
In ather words. the more progressive
men here would have preferred TO
have seen the decision So sweeping
as to apply 10 all trusts and monopo-
lies instead of To only those who are
ss hraxenly bad as the Standard OH
company,
Defense IA Rejected.
The defense OF the Standard OIL
Company both in the lower courts
and above WAS that the present or
ganization of the Standard OH Com
pany was the result OF the natural
growth of a large industry and that
no statute had been violated. Fur
thermore. it was contended that II
had really been OF general benefit tc
the people and to the country by CIV
ing to the consumer its product at q
lower price than would have been
possible under other circumstances.
The Supreme Court indicates its
entire disbelief in this contention as
not borne out by the facts and cites
that the evidence clearly shows thai
The Standard did conspire and thai
he purpose OF their conspiracy was
not beneficial but injurious to the
public and the public interests.
1t then proceeds to conStrue the
frst two sections of the Sherman &C,
and to declare its conviction that ths
standard Oil Company has. almost
from Its start. been in violation OF
these sections. the plain purpose ane