The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-04-03
The Standard Oil Case.

dents that has ever occurred in Mis-
souri affairs is the restoration by the
Legislature 10 the Standard Oil Com
pany Of the right Of do business within
the state. The story of the prosecu-
ton OF the Standard Oil Company for
violating the antitrust laws Of the state
is full Of interest to those who approve
the warfare on monopolies. About
ten years ago the Standard Oil directors
managed to buy enough Of the stock
of the Waters-Pierce Oil Company, a
Missouri corporation, TO control it.
Then the oil business Of the state was
apportioned between the Waters Pierce
Company and the Standard Oil Com
pany Of Indiana, a subsidiary corpora
tion Of the parent Standard Oil Com
pany. The local officials Of the
Waters-Pierce Company, finding them
/ selves thus tied hand and foot by the
giant oil octopus, sought relief through
an apparently innocent bill introduced
in the Legislature, which, had it been
enacted, would have prevented the
Standard Oil Company's directors from
voting the stock Of the Waters Pierce
company they had acquired. The bill
would have been enacted but for the
discovery, made after it had passed
the senate and was ready for the final
vote in the house. II was discovered
that the measure would seriously affect
large number of Missouri corporations
that controlled and voted the stock Of
subsidiary corporations lumber, min
ing, transportation, light, gas and
manufacturing companies. The bill
was promptly killed when this fact
became known.
As soon as Herbert S. HadleY had
become installed as attorney general
he and his assistant, Rush c. Lake,
began in the supreme court the pros
ccution Of the Standard Oil Company
for violating the anti trust laws Of the
state. The story Of that prosecution
is familiar 10 the people Of the state
and the nation. Attorney General
Hadley had become the governor OF
the state before the supreme court an
nounced its decision, heavily fning
both the Standard Oil and the Waters
Pierce Company and expelling them
from the state. The Waters Pierce
Company having paid its fine and been
freed from all connection with the
Standard Oil Company, was finally per.
miited by the court TO continue bust,
ness in the state, but the Standard Oil
Company appealed TO the United States
supreme court, where the decision Of
the Missouri court was sustained, the
law and Iacts in the case having been
50 completely set out in the record
that no other out come was probable
CT even possible.
But new factor entered into the
matter when the final order OF the
Missouri court was made a few weeks
ago absolutely shutting out the Stan
dard Oil Company. The effect Of this
order was the abandonment OF the
great oil refinery in Jackson County
at Sugar creek, a new town Of 500
people, built up by employees OF the
refinery. To close the refinery is to
blot out this thrifty town" was the cry
that came up to the legislature from
Jackson county and Kansas City; but
it was a specious plea, because the
oil business needs that refinery and the
owners would have found some way to
keep it going. The legislature, how
ever, promptly passed an act permit
ting the Standard Oil Company TO con-
tinue its business, by paying the fines
. assessed against the defendant com
paDies. The act leaves the money paid
by the company in the treasury Of the
state but lifts the lid" put upon the
company's business. 1t may be q
good thing for the company and foi
Jackson county but the people Of The
, state may take broader view Of i
= than those who look at it from tht
q Jackson county standpoint.