The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-29

4 L OOJSCl " d1l l1A1S Lc1Ah ANU
/ spirit" said Mr.. Untermeyer,. emphat
| ical1y. Spirits are good things. bu
facts are what we want / want II
know what you know about the pro
cess of this dissolution, Mr.. Rookie
Teller, and we are going to find it out
What want to know is, did you per
sonally take part in outlining any
comprehensive plan as to the way il
which the businesses were to be con
Quoted ?"
Il have not followed out those de.
tails at ALL
Now you have answered. Is there
Mr.. Rockefeller, so far as you know
any plan for the management of these
subsidiary companies? Have you beer
made acquainted with any ?"
Il have never been made acquaint'
ed with anything else than that there
was a plan that these companies each
should fulfill it's own function
There was a plan, as I understand
it, to try to obey the decree and yet
to run the businesses together %
mo, SIR answered the witness
again raising his voice. Each OF
these interests is distinct"
Then why is it that the old COM
pany and this group of gentlemen OF
which you speak, why is it that they
had placed in their hands the proxies
with which to set up and constitute
and name all of the boards of direc-
tors and all of the officers of these
constituent companies %
A Very Simple Thing.
I'm order that these boards of di-
rectors of these constituent companies
might be qualified in the best way to
fulfill their functions" replied the wit
ness. THAT is a very simple thing"
Having been manner by this group
all of tnem-that is your idea of in
dependence queried Mr.. Inter
meyer.
ers,'' interposed Mr.. Murray.
viii the stenographer please take
it down; that what he is here for. ;"
retorted the Rockefeller lawyer.
MI. Untermeyer concluded his Ques-
tioninG at this point with heavy
Il am at your disposal, Mr.. Inter
meyer" volunteered Mr.. Rockefeller.
Don't spare me. 1t is my sincere
desire to"
II object" interrupted the attorney.
'You object to my sincere desire. ~
81 have been filled with too many
professions today" replied the lawyer.
Earlier in the testimony Mr.. Rookie
Teller had said that he had attended
Standard Oil company of New Jersey,
at which the dissolution plan had been
agreed upon, but denied that he had
discussed the plan with any of the
directors since.
The witness stated that he obtained
in a general way from
Mr.. Archbo1d, Mr.. Pratt and Mr..
Bedford" at which time he asked
them, he said, "are we carrying out
everything in strict accordance WITH
the decree
saThat's a pretty speech" interrupt
ed Mr.. Untermeyer, what we want IS
facts"
Mr.. Rockefeller admitted that "the
people of 26 Broadway sanctioned
the names used in his Waters-Pierce
proxies, one of which he was asked
to identify. They were made out In
the name of NJ. M. Van Buren,. John
D. Archbolds' son-in-law, and wafer
F. Taylor, a lawyer connected with the
firm of John G. Milburn, attorney for
the Standard Oil company during the
government dissolution suit. He said
that he was accustomed to sign
proxies sent to him by the "reorgan-
izers of the Standard Oil company"
as a matter of routine. He assumed
that they were carrying out the man
dates of the court, he said.
1.-THE fact that the Standard Oil
xind', was to testify attracted a large
crowd to the building at 81 Wall street
where the hearing is being held in the
offices oe Samuel Untermyer, attorney
,or the Waters-Pierce interests. so
tense was the crowd that Mr.. Rookie
teller and his attendants were obliged
% force their way into the building.
Where do you live, Mr.. Rockefel-
er?'' was the first question of Mr..
'sPocantico Hills is ny present resi-
lence?"
DO you remember executing a proxy
or Waters-PieFce Oil company stockF'
IT do
who presented you the proxy?''
MY secretary
Did he tell you what he wanted the
proxy for?'
He did not"
did you ask?"
81 did not
Had you heard tina: there was Il
on at that time over the
Itock?''
mot at that time.''
Mr.. Rockefeller explained that he
signed proxies almost every day as
sent from his office.
do you know that there is frequent
Y contest over proxies?"
Yes
Proxies Always Right.
"How do you determine for which
party you should sign?''
"I have never found proxies sent
rom my office that were not right for
ne to sign. There has never been any
difficulty with them. sign the
''They have certain discretion in
he office as to what they shall send
Tou to sign, haven't they?"
In0y nave DeeIl III my Office lOE 1V |
II 80 years and they know my invest |
nents and my affairs"
Have they invested in them any |
liscretion?" |
ct do not know that that question |
las ever come up" said Mr.. Rookie |
eller. How much discretion they
Use, I don't know. We have never
'een caught or signing proxies"
What do you mean by being
aught ."
I'VE have never made a mistake"
You mean you never have signed |
my against your INTEREST,""
Eyes"
After his personal counsel, George
". hurry, had SPOKEN a word to him |
n a low voice, Mr.. Rockefeller said |
lie knew NJ. NJ. Van Buren, and Walter |
Z. Taylor to whom the proxies We're |