The Washington times., 1912-08-30
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
MAY Be THE CHARGE
AGAINST OIL MEN.
Standard Is Accused Of Fail
ing To Comply With
q Dissolution Order.

While the Administration Is engaged
in proclaiming that the decree In the
Standard Oil case and the dissolution
proceedings In other cases under the
Sherman law have been adequate, the
Department of Justice itself has been
obliged once more to renew the war
on the Standard Oil Company. IL
charges against that company be true,
not only Is II once more engaged in
practices which have at various times
been bitterly condemned, but It Is acting
In contempt Of the decree of the Federal
court which supposedly broke up the
trust
For some months. there have been re-
ports that the Attorney General was
confronted with evidence showing all
was not going we'll 30 far as the STAN
dsrd Oil Company's adherence to the
decree was concerned.
Now matters have come to a head
In Texas. There, at Dallas, the Federal
grand jury of the northern district of
Texas has returned an indictment
against various prominent oil men as
representatives Of the Standard Oil
Company, charging restraint Of trade
and unlawful conspiracy and combina-
lion In violation of the Sherman law.
r. Archbold Indicted
John D. Archbold, Calvin N. Paine,
Henry c. Folger, jr., and other promi-
nent,oii men and the Standard OIL Com
pany of New York, the Standard Oil
Company of Pennsylvania, and the Mag
nolia Petroleum Company of Texas are
under Indictment. 1t is charged they
consptred to destroy the business of the
Pierce-Forduce Oil Association of Texas
This, 1t Is alleged, was attempted by
price-cutting. hiring away agents and
officers Of the association, and other
methods we'll known to the oil business.
The case Is set for the January term of
court,
The indictment is brought under the
criminal feature of the Sherman law. 1t
Is of special interest Just now for a
variety OF reasons. In the first place,
John D.. Archbold, who is one Of those
indicted, is much in the limelight now
in connection with campaign contribu-
tions. -z
In the second place. Attorney General
Wickersham has been busily proclaim
ing the adequacy OF the Government s
dissolution proceedings against the
trusts. especially oil and tobacco.
In the third place, 1t appears the De-
partment of Justice has been investi-
eating the alleged violations of law in
Texas for three months, and 1t has been
forced to consider the question of bring
ing contempt proceedings for the viola
tion of the decree In the reorganization
of the Standard Oil Company
While the grand jury considered
charges that the decree in the Standard
OIL case had been violated. the grand
jury proceedings have nothing to do
with contempt proceedings. The De-
partment of Justice Is considering the
beginning Of such proceedings. but will
probably not do so unless 1t is found
the grand jury proceedings and the
subsequent trial on the indictment fail
to remedy the situation.
This is the first open move CT the
Government against Standard Oil since
the decree of dissolution of the Stand
ard Oil monopoly last November.
A contest is on in the Federal courts
in st. Louis between the Standard OIL
and the Waters-P Pierce Company This
involves the question whether the Stand
ard has lived UP to the decree. hut the
Government is not a party to IL.