The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-16
LAWS ARM NOT TOO SHORT.

LAWS ARM NOT TOO SHORT
The American people are to be congratulated
upon the result of the long and bitterly con-
tested suit for the dissolution of the Standard
Oil Company. On Monday the United States
Supreme Court with practical unanimity sus-
tanned the decision of the United States Circuit
Court for the eastern district of Missouri dis
solving this the greatest monopoly and most
powerful business institution in the worli,
again clearly demonstrating that the power
of the government is not too limited the
arm of the law too short to reach and to destroy
even the most powerful OF offenders
Tho passing of the Standard Oil Company
will be mourned by few. How it's wonderful
business been built up in honest competition
and by fair dealing it would never have been
the object of attack and 1t might have re-
tanned its corporate existence indefinitely. But
weil-sustained evidence never succeesfulls
combatted. proved that it had ridden rough
shod over weaker competitors. that 1t scruplei
ut no methods however unfair to undo it's
business rivals, that it fattened off secret
freight rebates while its opponents paid full
tariffs. that it corrupted legislators, and even
sought to invade the very judiciary Itself, One
OF the most severe arraignments OF men AMI
methods from the lips Of court Is contained in
the following paragraph from the decision in
this case
We think dsinterested mind can survey
the period in question without being constantly
arriving at the conclusion that the very genius
OF the development and organization which 1t
would seem was manifested from the beginning
soon begot an inten, and purpose to exclude
others. which was frequently manifested by acts
and dealings wholly inconsistent with the theory
that they were made with the single object OF
advancing the development of business power
by unusual methods. but which. the
trary. necessarily involved the intent to drive
Others from the field and TO exclude them from
their right to trade and thus accomplish the
mastery which was the end in view And.
sidering the period from the date of the trus,
agreements of 1879 and 1882 up to the time of
the expansion OF the New Jersey corporation
the gradual extension of the power over the
commerce In oil which ensued, the decision of
the Supreme Court OF Ohio. the hardness or re-
luctance In conforming to~the commands Of that
decision, the method first adopted and that
which finally eliminated In the plan of the New
Jersey corporation all additionally to
make manifest the continued existence of the
intent which we have previously indicated and
sion of the New Jersey corporation
The view of the court will anneal "a tho
people as being fun of the soundest of sound
commensurate. It shows that the men in cbarea
OF standard Oil have had but one idea and that
the mastery OF the oil trade Their success, In
this line of endeavor however was so marked
that the Standard Oil group" is now the Alb
solute master OF many of the most powerful
financial institutions and industrial entarurises
IN America. Their power. barring the govern
mental arm. is well~nigh absolute The de-
cision of the Supreme Court will prove a whole
some warning to other great combinations
/ The decision Of the court in this case to-
gether with that in the Labor case will have
wholesome effect upon the public at large
with reference to its opinion of oIfr judicial
system.
Ihere has been an unfortunate disposition,
on the part of many to critieise and 70 condemn
the judiciary. There is no doubt that court
procedure II cumbersome and that the laws
delay" is too frequently shield for the guilty
and the last resort of the wealthy itigant
against weaker rival The clogs should be
removed from the wheels of justice and pro-
cedure reformed in the interests OF economy
and dispatch but, with all its faults our jud-
iciary remains the very Palladium Of our lib
critics, the protector OF the weak against the
strong, check on the one hand against nm
seeing radcalism the part of the have
nots' and on the other hand exercising n
healthy restrictive influence upon the greed OF
the HAYES"