New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-28
MAY CALL ROCKEFELLER
CHARGED with Being Behind e.
fort to Control Waters-PierCe Co.
"DISSOLUTION IS A FARCE"
INSPECTORS Who Refused to Ac-
cept Proxies at Annual Meet
ing So Declared.

John y. Rockefeller may be called TINS
afternoon TO tell how the STANDARD ON
COMPANY WAS cirCumvcntinG t." decree OF
the Supreme Court which dissolved IN"
combination and was popularity accepted as
having put an end 10 the oil trust MI
Rockefeller's testimony will be sought i'm
IN, proceedings Instituted by the standard
oil interests 10 obtain control over the
Waters Pierce oil COMPANY
The first hearing in the suit was held
Yesterday before Abraham l. Jacobs as
commissioner. at No 81 Wall street. Sam
uel Nntermver. as counsel for Henry cav
Pierce. brought out the fact that John -
Rockefeller himself had been the moving
shirt i'm the attempt to obtain control or
the Waters Pierce company, once sub
sidiary Of the trust. through collection
If proxies that would have assured ~"
election of officers suhServicnt to Standard
OF interests
The trouble was started a the annual
election of officers i'm the Waters-Pierce
company I'm St. Louis on February To-.
Election inspectors refused to accept the
votes Of proxy holders for Mr.. Rockefeller.
his son and Jonn u. Archibald. Tho refusal
was followed 10y an application for the IS
suancc of Il writ of mandamus. but the IN
spcctors replied that the decree diSSoINlhE
the Standard oil Company prevented It's
directors from voting in subsidiary conf
ranics. and stated that the Waters-Pierc'
con7uauy had been subsidiary hefor" the
disiutcGration.
In their opposition to the writ Of man
damus. the inspectors. John ". Johnson
and Robert f.. Maloney, charged that the
said dissolution is a farce. disguise ana
q prctcAt. and has made no change what
soevcr i'm the relations Of the said com
ranies or their directors. management
and control" They also alleged that In
stead at controlling all Of its former sub
salaries directly. the Standard oil Com
rsuy cr New Jersey continued its control
through the ownership Of the stock Of the
subsidiaries by stockholders VIII" were
anxious to carry out the will Of the men
who had made the trust 50 successful.
Many Witnesses Subponaed,
\ large number Of witnesses have been
subpunacd. among them John u. Rookie
roller and John j. Archbold. Among
those who were sworn in yesterday were
T. Z. MorrcI secretary and treasurer of
inc OltlIdl vi 'Iltl'Hi's " ''''''
IIutchinson secretary and treasurer OF
the Union Tank Company; Samuel =.
Drew. secretary and treasurer OF the
,'hescbrough Manufacturing Company
John r. Lee. secretary and treasurer OF
the swan & Finch Company; Albert G.
Weed secretary ana treasurer of the
Borne-Scrymscr Company; Henry VI. TIL
ford a director of the Standard Oil Com
pany of New Jersey. and Charles NJ. Pratt
a director in the same company.
only one witness was examined yester-
day. Charles 7. White. secretary of the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey.
Mr.. White said he had been with the com
pany only since last December.
one Of the first things asked by Mr..
I'ntermyor was what changes had taken
place in the directorate Of the Standard
oil Company from the year 1900 to the
present date. lie then inquired into the
daily directors meetings. but Mr.. White
said he did not know what went on at
these meetings.
Were you ever asked to prepare proxies
10 be distributed among stockholders or
the Waters-Pierce Company Mr. Inter
mvcr asked.
Mr.. White replied that he had been, and
on further questions he said James \,
Moffett had asked him TO do so at the end
Of December or carly in January.
Until the date Of the election, did YOU
discuss any Of its phases or the securing
OF any proxies with any other officers Of
the standard On?" Mr.. Untermyer asked.
Yes sir" said Mr.. White; with John
j. Archrold. H. G. Bedford. G. NJ Pratt,
II
members Of the standard Oil directorate"
Solicited RockefelIer's Proxy.
Mr. White asserted that he did not know
for whom the proxies gathered 10y him
would be used at the election. Asked who
solicited John D. Rockefeler's proxy, Mr..
White said he went to Mr.. Rockefeller S
secretary. Mr.. Carcy. and asked him 10
have Mr.. Rockefeller sign the proxy.
without any explanations" asked Mr.
Untclmycr.
Yes, sir. without explanation
lie did not ask who were to be chosen
a directors or how the property was 70
be managed. or anything concerning it,
No, sir he did not
Did YOU hand Mr. Carey proxies for III.
stock Of the General Educational Eoaro
and the University Of Chicago. and Mr.
Rockcfcller's children
~ did"
And they were an signed?'
''Thoy were"
DID Henry N. FlagIcr sign proxies
yes. without any question"
This is the first time in the history Of
the STANDARD OH in which there had beer
a personal canvass for proxies"
so far as know, yes
Mr. White said there seemed to be no ap