The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-01-20
SUIT FOR DISSOLUTION OF
STANDARD OIL BEGINS IN U. 8.
SUPREME COURT.
Attorneys for Rockefeller and Ascot
ates to Make Final Fight in Highest
Tribunal in the Land.
History of Litigation Against Greatest
Monopoly i'm the Entire World.

it's very existence under its present
organization is expected to begin late
today in the supreme court of the
United States. Arguments in the to-
bacco case dissolution, it is expected
will be concluded a half hour before
court adjourns. John G. Milburn will
then lay before the court the founda-
ton for the defense of the Standard
against it's proposed dissolution I'M
der the Sherman antitrust law.
The suit under the Sherman anti
trust law to dissolve the Standard
Oil organization was instituted in
1906 in the Circuit Court of the
United States for the Eastern District
of Missouri. The proceedings were
begun 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 Jersey.
From 1883 to the present time this
company is said to have operated re-
fineries itself, but in 1889 its stock
was increased to 100000 so as to
enable 1t to acquire the stock of nine
teen other oil companies, which in
turn owned a large number of COM
panies, concerned in the oil business.
The Standard Oil company of New
Jersey was designated as holding
company and Is similar to the Ameri-
can Tobacco company, the organiza-
ton of which was considered by the
court during the last few days.
The seven individuals named in the
suit as defendants were John D.
Rockefeller William Rockefeller,
Henry M. Flagler Henry H. Rogers,
John D. Archbold, Oliver H. Payne,
and Charles M. 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
Flagler conceived the purpose of con-
trolling the petroleum trade, both
domestic and export, and obtaining
monopoly thereof They entered
into a conspiracy to accomplish this
purpose, which from time to time
took the form of various combina-
tions. Shortly after 1870 the Rookie
fellers and Flagler were Joined in the
conspiracy by Rogers, Archbold,
Payne and Pratt.
The form which the alleged con-
spiracy took Is described by the gov
eminent as being from 1870 to 1882
"a combination between large num-
Der of manufacturers. who acted In
harmony and whose stock interests
we're pooled in the hands of three
trustees in 1879" From 1882 to
1890, the form of the alleged COM
bination was that of trust agree
ment, whereby the stock OF a large
number of corporations was placed IN
the hands of trustees, who managed
the property. From 1899 to the pre-
sent time, the combination is alleged
to have taken the form of a holding
company, the Standard OIL company
of New Jersey.
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 mon
opolizing the oil trade. A decree was
entered enjoining the holding COM
pany from exercising any control over
the subsidiary companies, and en-
Joining the subsidiary companies
e from paying any dividends to the
Y holding company. All were enjoined
a from engaging in interstate commerce
a until the illegal combination was dis
8 continued.
The court also found that the Stan
dard Oil company:
Produced more than one-tenth o.
all the crude oil obtained in this
country.
Owned and operated more thai
one-half of all the tank cars, used Il
q distribute its products.
Manufactured more than three
i fourths of all the crude oil refnet
4 in the United States.
4 Transplanted more than four-fifth
of the petroleum derived from tn
Pennsylvania and Indiana oil nelds'
! Marketed more than four-ffths o
all the Illuminating oil sold in tn
United States
R Exported more than four-fifths Q
5 all the Illuminating oil sent fort
= from the United States.
Sold more than four-fifths OF a.
II the naptha sold in the United states
4 Sold more than nine-tenths OF a
-, II~s.o+ior Ill cold RI tho raj