The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-06-01
OPTIONS ON CORPSES.

That death penalty imposed by the
supreme court of the United States
upon the Standard Oil company of
New Jersey seems to have had in con-
temptation something like blissful
rejuvenation in another world.
Some skeptics have protested to
marvel that human beings weep and
grieve over the death of one Of their
number who may, from all the ira
ditions taught them, rely upon an
awakening in another world to the
enjoyment of bliss eternal. 1t has al
ways been something of mystery
why friends can weep at the prospect
of such an accession to unyielding
joy, but they do it.
However, it is different with the
Standard Oil. AS soon as it was con-
demned by the supreme court to die,
all of it's friends perked up instantly.
There was no weer:ng, no agony or
lamentations, no prostration of men,
tai or physical activities. The i'm
pending death decreed by the court
was somehow recognized by the
speculative public as an entrance in
to career of greater usefulness and
profit to this seemingly deathless
octopus.
1t is interesting to peruse the mar
ket reports. Wall street had expected
a decision last Monday in time to
have it reported on change before
the markets closed, and had mes
sengers stationed at the national
capital to instantly flash the decree
of the court to the brokers on Wall
street. Every holder Of, or dealer in,
stocks of any of the great trusts
knew that the decision in the Stand
ard Oil case meant veal or woe to
every other trust. Here is how the
reputed death sentence of Standard
Oil by the supreme court operated
on change. Monday afternoons
papers reported:
Upon the announcement that the
supreme court would take a recess
until 2:30, the market, which had
been creeping slowly upward, fell in
to a state Of utter stagnation, but
prices held firm
The decision was handed down
Monday afternoon, and the Tuesday
market reports read as follows:
"Standard Oil opened at 675, a
loss of AZ points, but a few mo-
ments later more than recovered the
loss, selling at $50.
THE largest gains of many months
were made this morning in the stock
market, which interpreted the Stand
ard Oil decision as being decidedly
favorable from the Wall street view
point. The strength and activity of
the market were due to no small ex-
tent to relief which was felt that the
decision had been rendered and the
uncertainty for months was out of
the way.
In the first hour, more than AGO.
600 shares of stock were traded in,
three times the amount of business
done at yesterdays entire session.
Later larger amount of stock changed
! hands at still higher levels. One
block of 1900 shares of United States
Steel brought 7Sk. Commission
houses reported a large influx of out
side orders.
"A feature of the trading was the
strength shown by many industrial
properties. American Tobacco jump
ed Is points on the curb"
The market report of Wednesday
described continuance of the joy
Gus speculative festival as follows:
Further extensive gains were
made in the stock market this morn
ing, the whole list advancing in re-
spouse to persistent demand. The
feeling of confidence aroused by yes
/, terday's reception of the Standard
Oil decision was the chief factor in
the continued rise in prices.
"Speculative stocks reached
higher level; particularly the metal
issues. United States Steel touched
SOL and there was a good rise in
Amalgamated Copper and American
Smelling. Railroad stocks were less
active, but continued very strong"
Note the distinction. Railroad
stocks did not enjoy any increased
activity. 1t was only trust stocks, the
securities of such corporations as had
been condemned to death by the de-
cree of the supreme court. Such re-
markable optimism in the face of i'm
minent dissolution must surely look
like rebuke to those who are cast
down by the shadow of the grim
spectre of whose coming man know
eth not.
Even the reported certainty of
death brought relief from the har-
rowing uncertainty that hung over
big business and added value to
the prospective corpse.-Lincoln,
Neb., Star.