New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-21
Answers Condemnation.

THE letter" comments the Attorney
General. affords n very conclusive an
swer 10 the superficial condemnation
which has been SO recklessly INDUCED In
by political opponents to the administra-
tion."
The statement from the Department Of
Justice follows:
The Attorney General has been making
very careful inquiries into the present con-
dition of the business Of the countryin the
production and selling Of crude oil ana the
sale and distribution OF refined oil and It's
products as affected by the decree OF
dissolution in the Standard oil case. lie
has already pointed out OF several occa-
sIons the fact that tho decree IN
that case gave precisely the relief which
Mr. Rooscvelrs Attorney General and his
able assistant. Nh Frank b. Kellogg
sought in the bill filed at ST. Louis. Mr..
Kellogg himself on more than one occa-
sion has declared that Colonel Roosevelt
statement that nothing had been accom-
pIishcd by the decree was wide OF the
truth. and IN Mr.. KellogSs annual adj
dress before the American Bar Associa-
ton AT Milwaukee, IN August, 1872, nc
said.
o. believe absolutely In the justice, III
the suuuuurrs ana ~ the economic hsSSa2,
sity al the decision in the STANDARD Oll
and Tobacco cases. The judgment put IN
end 10 all the long list OF unfair methods
of competition used for the purpose OF
crushing out and destroying colnpeutOISl
il severed the holding company, separated
the subsidiary corporations ana prohlo
tied them from being Thereafter ilShastu
a. one harmonious Whole' anu t'e' 80
deprived them Of the power 10 cohtfol the
commerce Of the country. To the shlaI'ei
corporations and individuals engaged III
the business II brought pIOtecuOh lt"lh
the control and domination OF the gted.
combination. and to-day the INDEPENDENT
manufacturers in the oil industry are en-
JOying the right TO engage IN puSih'S'
" i'm "A fair opportunity 10 compete.
For the purpose OF ascertaining the
views OF representatives OF the indepen-
dent dealers on this latter point, the At
torney General some days ago wrote To
- ID. Chamberlain, who Is secretary ana
general counsel Of the National Petroleum
Association, an association OF very
large number Of independent refining
companies. embracing practically all the
companies not conRcted with the Stand
ard oil Company and its subsidiaries
asking that he furnish as accurate lnior-
nation AS he could concerning the pres
ent condition Of the oil business az con-
trasted with it's condition prior to tho
decree against the Standard OH combina-
ton in May, 1911. Mr.. Chamberlain has
replied to that inquiry In the following
letter:
"The Hon. George W. Wickersham, Attor-
ney General, Washington.
NV Dear Sir: 1 am IN receipt OF your
letter OF October g. I'm reply To which l
would state that IL IL not easy TO draw
sharp line for the purpose Of comparison
between the condition OF the Oil buslh. 81
at the date to which you refer, when tlg
supreme Court decided the Standard Oh
case i'm May, 1911, and the present ilhit.
because the effect OF the government 5
prosecution OF the Standard on combina-
ton began practically with the ming ..
that suit i'm November, 1906. and from that
date the practices OF the Standard on
combination I'm large measure ceased 10
he predatory, and the independent dealers
began to nave a chance to i've.