New-York tribune., 1911-01-18
STANDARD OIL CASE ENDS
lo1n G. Johnson Closes Pleas for
Company.
DEFINITIONS OF MONOPOLY
Attorney General Wickersham
Makes Final Argument on
Government Side.

GOVSIHuSHJ Slue.
washington. Jan. John q Johnson
,..dirS counsel for the Standard OIL Com
- concluded to-day IN a brilliant
,,ss,h the long argument before the Su-
,-,-,s court Of tho United states on the
,-o,osod dissolution of the company as in
collation. Of tho Sherman antitrust law.
p, marked contrast with Mr. Johnson's
,55rsss was the plain summary Of the
.,vsrn7rent's side Of the case by Attor-
-. General Wickersham. Many prominent
v-ssbinctonisns. including Mrs. Taft, who
,., within the bar Of the court in a scat
:, honor. heard the arguments.
. .Iopsdays We hear a great deal Of what
arc sfirmatzed 'reactionary courts, said
~ Johnson ar the close of his address,
.., which T understand the courts that
20 N the statutes as printed and TO the
-or,r,ss Of decisions by which the law Is
..,,ed and not 70 the files OF newspapers
80 n the speeches Of orstoriCal dema-
agnes. In p moment Of hysteriCal con-
..,.,,latfon of tho sins OF others-for We
arc never 50 apt 20 exaECerate our own
..a-a ant 20 mistake the extent Of others
ed the remedy 10 be applied. In the case
-. these large corporations the need IS not
s,- ,beir extirpation. BY their mere large
IS the country does not suffer: With
49,, these corporations prices would be
..~-sr hundreds Of millions Of men would
,s derived ~ employment and our for
,ty, trade more and more dependent upon
.r- manufactures. because Of the alarming
.---es>e OF growth Of our population
-stch consumes our agricultural product9
IN
..arca IN the competition Of the world for
.-ssa with a rival like Germany. the most
.-.s,lfeert Of them all, which by settled
legislation fosters tho combination which
,o1 are asked 70 condemn as criminal
Replies to KelIose's Warning.
v- Johnson replied 10 the warning Of
A. kellogg that unless the Sherman law
a. enforced the Standard would drive
IN ,rde7erdents out Of business within
FIVE wears.
AIR. KeI'oES need not fear any over
f,ndress f9- these corporations by judges
said Ny. Johnson. and he hardly need
lose arv sleep over their receiving any
favor from iures.
let the channels Of commerce be open
s,- all who may desire 20 enter. whether with
ocean steamer or dugout, with Rockefeller
wealth or with naught but their brains
and their hands. unfettered by their own
i-op-orsr restraints and u7interfered with
sv the abuse Of others, and all will have
been done that is wise. Beyond that lies
he srtagorism Of irrenressible economic
necessity and danger of disaster, the length
and breadth of which no man can tell
IN BEGINNING his remarks Nj. Johnson
told the court that 70 was significant that
The government had to 20 back over some
forty years 10 get evidence to stir up the
necessary Indignation" for the support OF
their case
An attempt 10 give little color 70 the
cssa had been made Mr Johnson said, by
The government stating that ia companies
were In the combination.
"Nr. Kellogg forgot 10 say that forty
r,rs we're organized in foreign countries,
added Mr. Johnson. sixteen were not in
.'uded in the bill and fourteen others were
tscnarged'
( NJ Johnson got down 10 real work by
/ declaring that 10 vas the duty of the gov
eminent TO define the meaning OF restraint
Z Of trade and Of monopolizing, as refer1 eA
70 ir tEs Sherman antitrust law.
The attorney reviewed various eXplana-
lions gwen by government attorneys Of the
meaning OF the Jaw and declared them uu-
Warranted vague or indefinite. The &C
QUESTION. II TIE course Of conducting dust
ness. Of competitors vas not Don restraint or
rsde Or tending toward monopoly. MI
Johnson argued. MonopOIzng is the eA-
,usou Of others Illegally from business,
be declared
Attorney General WIckerSham began his
closing remdrks for the government as soon
ss the court convened lie said Congress
framed the Sherman antitrust law 90 strike
~ Just such UOuopohes as the Standard OH
4Nouparr had built up by eNtOrtlOn from
tcomrst."-- The monopoly was continuous,
tla said. t.ro--. various forms 20 this day.
lue then went into the evidence 10 show 70
sNle- extent '..e Standard ''mOnOpClzed va
triolS branches o. tle oil business. II waz
"a case. n- added. Of great capitalists unit
i6E ila'~ great wealth IN r corporation and
G-.zng rs franchise 10 Oppres, the people
FINALLY Mr. WickeTSham said a word in
favor Of the form Of the decree OF the Cir
-I' Court ~ the United States for the
eastern Distr'r, OF Missouri dissOlviuE the
standard Oh Company Of New Jersey. He
declared i' was neither revolutionary nor
,gLas at'rE uf property, buJ merely direct
lsud