Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-05-19


the decision Of the Supreme Court of
the United States the casea gainst
the greatest OF all trusts, the Stand
ard Oil Company. The anxiety has
at last been relieved by the court
last Monday rendering asweepipg de-
cision against the standard.
The STANDARD Oil Company yester-
day was declared by the Supreme
Court Of the United States to be a
conspiracy and com animation in re-
straiut of trade. The decree also held
that this gigantic corporation was
nIonopolizipg interstate commerce in
violation of the Sherman antitrust
law.
The combination is ordered to be
dissolved. The 80 days given by the
lower court within which to wind up
its affairs is extended 10 months. In
practically every other respect the de-
cision OF the court below i. affirmed.
The action of the court was unani-
nous. The decision is said by great
lawyers to be one of far-reaching i'm :
portance. Itglves life and effect to
the sherman antitrust law. Through
the reasoning of the court, expressed
in the opinion delivered by the chief
justice, the courts hereafter must diff
ierentlaie between the good and the
bad trusts.
For the first time since the enact
ment of the Sherman law treason
able" restraint of trade is recognized
and legalized. The court, inquiring in
to the. intent of the lawmaking body
and applying what the chief justice
characterized as the rule of reason" re-
fused to construe the law as being ap.
plicable TO ''every" restraint of trade,
but only TO acts of "undue" or Gun
reasonable restraint.
Corporations whose contracts are
mot unreasonsbly restrictive of COM
petition are not affected.
Other great corporations whose acts
may be called into question will be
dealt with according to the merits of
their particular cases.
President Faft and cabinet will con-
slider Immediately the entire trRst sit
uatlon and the ACCESSIBILITY of pressing
for Federal Incorporation act.
A decision IN the tobacco trust case,
which was expected simultaneously,
was not announced today, and may he
handed down on MAY 20.
Opinions vary on the decision as to
its effect Oh the trusts. We give a few
below.
SENATOR LA TOILETTE.
L look at 1t as dangerous decision
for II 1t be true, as Justice Harlan in
dicates, that com hina 10 be un.
lawful must be in "unreasonableu re-
Of trade, the court has written
into the statute word Congress re-
fused to insert, and for which the
trusts fought and were defeated. :
FRANK b. KELLOGG.
"Ihe dissolution of the Standard
Oil Company Of New Jersey, the trust,
is now inevitable. The government
won complete victory. Every mate
rial Issue for which we eontended was
decided in our favor
SENATOR RAILEY.
."Ihe court has construed the statute
as 1t is and as it ought to be, and un-
der that construction no men or set of |
men can organize or conduct a monop.
oily; and yet every man or any set of
men can conduct their legitimate and
Lawful. business without serious inter-
ference"
SENATOR CULBERsON.
"Fhe opinion of the majority, as to
the construction of the act, is pure iu
diclaI legislation, for which the trusts
have been contending for fifteen years,
and which will be used by them to fur
nish their combinations and conspira
eipG pUainst