The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-13
ARGUE OIL CASE IN
SUPREME COURT
ISSOLUTlON SUIT TO BE TAKEN
UP TODAY-FlNAL FIGHT ON
ILLEGAL COMBINATION.

tomorrow it is expected will begin
the final f2ht of the Standard Oil
Company to avoid dissolution as a
trust under the operation of the Sher-
man antitrust law. 1t was thought
the case would be reached today,
but arguments upon the similar case
OF the so-called tobacco trust We're
not concluded. When those argu-
ments are finished, soon after the re-
sumption of business by the court to-
morrow, John G. Milburn of Buffalo
is expected to place before it the
foundation of the defense of the
Standard against the move instituted
by the government.
The suit under the Sherman anti
trust law to dissolve the Standard
Oil organization was instituted in
1906 in the circuit court of the Unit
Ell States for the eastern district of
Missouri. The proceedings were be-
gun by the department of justice in
the name of the United States
against ia corporations and seven
individuals.
The principal corporation was the
Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey. From 1882 to the present time
this company is said to have operat-
.l -, 1tt, In,
stock was increased W $10O,000,OOO so
as to enable it to acquire the stock
which in turn owned a large number
OF companies concerned in the oil
business. The Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey was designated as
holding company and is similar to
the American Tobacco Company the
organization of which was consider
ed by the court during the last few
days.
The seven individuals named in the
suit as defendants We're John ID.
Rockefeller, William Rockefeller,
Henry NJ. Flagler, Henry Rogers,
John ID. Archbold, Oliver H. Payne
ard Charles NJ. Pratt. The part these
men are said to have played in the
alleged violation of the Sherman anti
trust law has been summarized by
the government as follows:
About 1870 the Rockefellers and
Flaggler conceived the purpose of
controlling the petroleum trade, both
domestic and export, and obtaining a
monopoly thereof. They entered into
conspiracy to accomplish this pur-
pose, which from time to time took
the form of various combinations.
Shortly after 1870 the RoCkefellers
and Flagler were joined in the con-
spiracy by Rogers, Archbold, Payne
and Pratt.
The form which the alleged con
spiracy took is described by the gov
ernment as being from 1870 to 1882
a combination between a number of
manufacturers, who acted in harmony
ard whose stock interests We're pool
ed in the hands of three trustees in
1879 From 1882 to 1899 the form
OF the alleged combination was that
of trust agreement, whereby the
stock of a large number of corpora
tions was placed in the hands OF
trustees, who managed the property.
From 1899 to the present time the
combination is alleged to have taken
the form of a holding company, the
Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey.
The four judges in the circuit court
found that the Standard Oil was an
Illegal combination in restraint of in
terstate commerce and was also mo-
nopolizing the oil trade. A decree
was entered enjoining the holding
company from exercising any control
over the subsidiary companies, and
enjoining the subsidiary companies
from paying any dividends to the
holding company. All were enjoined
from engaging in interstate COM
merce until the illegal combination
was discontinued.
The court also found that the
Standard Oil.
Produced more than one-tenth of
the crude oil obtained in this coun-
try.
Owned and operated more than one
half of al the tank cars used to dis
tribute its products.
Manufactured more than three |
fourths of all the crude oil refined in .