Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-05-26

Springfield, Mass, May 25,-"Dur-
Ing the six months specified by the Su-
prcme Court as II period for di.BOlu-
ton, the standard on Company can
crush practically every independent oil
dealer In the United States" WAS the
statement made by Thomas L. Hlsgen,
president Of the Four Brothers lnde-
pendent on Company the prime pal
Eastern competitor Of the Standard
oil Company
Probably no representative Of the
Independent oil Interests IL better
qualified to discuss the situation thau
MIR Iilgs,n. who. besides having a
large property Investment al sake,
has au added interest from the fact
that the -Four Brothers Company furn
lshed some of the most damaging cyi-
dence offered by the government For
two weeks during the taking Of stan
Mr. Hisgcn sat at Mr.. Kellug's elbow
and was the man from whom the Gov
ornmonts trust buster frequently
sought specific Information
what reason Is there 10 believe
that the Standard on Company win
adopt different tactics during the last
six months Of It's legal existence
None, in my opinion. ON the con-
trary the logical course would be TO
pursue its victims relentlossly and to
enter its constituent parts in the
ranks OF the good trusts six months
hence with competition practically ELI
minated.
1T might be thought that respect
for the courts would actuate the Stan
dard on Company to cease It's practi-
ces while the legal status of tie big
monolopy was being determined. What
do We find? That the present price Of
oil in New England, as low as four
cents gallon In some cities is about
half the wholesale price IN New York
city and the lowest in the history Of
the oil industry east OF the Mlssiss-
ippi'
To support his contention that S an
dRrd oil tactics did not change dur
ing the period in which the Supreme
Court had the Standard case under
consideration, after the rehearng W 9
ordered, MIR. Hlsgen produced the af-
hdavit OF South Hadley storekeeper
who was practically threatened with
commercial extinction. The affidavit,
made scarce y three months ago is as
follows:
/, George II. Everson of South Hal
ley, I'm tho County OF Hampshire,
State OF Massachusetts,, on oath de-
pose and say that l am the manager
Of the E. H. Everson Company. deal
ers in groceries and provisions, and
on or about the 2Oth day Of Novemb-
or 1910, the Holyoke representative
of the Standard OH Company, one Mr..
Trembley. called at my store and en-
deavored to sell oil to me.
That | informed him tlat | was a
customer OF and purchasing oil from
Hisgen Brothers That he requested
me to purchase from him and sell to
my customers oil to be supplied by the
Standard OIL Company. That ! re-
fused TO make such purchase and told
him that | preferred to deal with His
gen Brothers.
Mr. Trembley made the following
statement:
"If we cannot sell You oil we will
put on { ans IN your district and place
the price Of oil down to such a figure
that we win take your trade away
from YOU. To do this we will give 1t
away II necessary, and we will drive
the Independent oil company out of
tho field"
The company referred to by the pro
noun we" was the Standard OH Com
pony
This statement was made TO me in
the presence Of my son, and the in
dependent oil company referred to in
our conver alton was Hisscn Broth
crs
THE Independent oil dealer expect
and ls prepared to meet fair compcti-
tlon." said Mr. llisgen "If the Su-
premc Court decision means an end of
rebates, of selling below cost I'm s.
trcts, I'm which there is competition
and Of charging twice the price In
question outside the zone Of compoti-
ton, and that the day Of intimidation
and discriminating freights is overt
mcnus, ns I nmly believe was the IN.
tent ~ the supreme Court that the