The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-14
THE TRUsTBUsTER ALL RIGHT.

THE TRUsTBUsTER ALL RIGHT
It has developed that Frank B. Kellogg, spe-
cial counsel of the Department of Justice in
the prosecution of the Standard Oil Company,
and 50 successful in his work as to earn the
sobriquet of Trust Buster has also been for
years the special counsel of subsidiary compa.
MES of the United States Steel Company in
Minnesota. The firm OF Davis kellogg &
Severance. of which he is a member has for
years represented the Duluth and Iron Range
Railroad and the Duluth. Mesaba and North
ern Railroad, subsidiary companies since 1901
of the Steel Corporation
At first blush 1t would appear that Mr. Stan.
ley and his committee have unearthed another
sensatfon--a regular DR. Jekyll and Mr. HYDE
story reproduced tn real life a kind of dual
performance "Trust-buster' In daylight and
"trust-binder in the dark. shifting the Stand
ard Oil with doubled fists in one court and dou-
bling fists over $4,000 fee received from Steel
Trust for services rendered in another We
. really expect TO find some of our exchanges
growing somewhat hysterica over the cunning
duplicty of Frank Kellogg
But suppose we take counsel of reason and
view the situation in calm, dispassionate fash
ion. Here are the facts In the case: These rail-
roads desired local counsel They employed
the firm of Davis. Kellogg & SEVERANCE Surely
the roads within their rights in the mat.
ter of levying upon legal knowledge and ser
vices. And certainly Mr.. Kellogg's firm vio-
lated no law in contracting to give the rail
roads the benefit of their large learning and
experience So the connection was formed
services rendered and compensation received.
And Mr. Kellogg says in very manly fashion
I that he has apologies to offer to anybody.
Certainly not, If such apologies were in order
the whole bar at least such portion as
4 possesses the ability to conduct great causes
and command large compensation, would be on
their knees 1t is plain case thus far.
I Now the government appears upon the scene
and solieits the services of Mr.. Kellogg to pros
ecute the Standard Oil Company. Is there any
! reason why they should not employ him or why
he should refuse to accept the engagement?
The government is looking for versed
in corporation law, an expert IN court proce-
dure of this kind. and Mr. kellogg is looking
for clients that is, according to professional
etiquette he is in receptive attitude. A plain
contract is made and Mr.. Kellogg enters into
the service of the Government vs. the Standard
Oil Company. How ably and faithfully he
performed this service is matter of record
and his signal success has given him national
F., prominence the Trust Buster"
In each of the above cases there only need
be applied well-known principle of legal eth
les to acqut Mr. kellogg of any wrong-doing
1t is universally understood that counsel UNI
dertake only 10 guarantee their clients their
sent the plaintiff or the defendant, and this is
their whole duty TO secure his rights under
the law They may represent plaintiff in one
suit and defendant in another, when. the same
principles are involved, and with even justice
and equal earnestness undertake to to
y, each his rights under the law. This is what
Mr. Kellogg and all that Mr. Kellogg, has
!, done He undertook to protect the legal rights
Of certain railroads subsidiary to the Steel
Trust upon certain occasions. and again he de
$ vason of them by the OIL Company upon other
; occasions For our part, we not discover
any inconsistency in MIR Kellogg's conduct We
congratulate him upon his signal abilities and
his conspicuous success, and we trust that the
public will let him continue to bust be bust
peace