The Detroit times., 1914-01-27
BURKE CLAIMS
HE'S VICTIM OF
STANDARD OIL
tCoatIHusa from page oasl.

from receiving letters written by him
and bearing on his case.
Z. Destroyed the machinery OF the
first plant his company built TO give
tests OF HIS inventions.
s. Filled his factory and his prod
ucts with sulphuric acid and other
chemicals.
3. Forced him from the famous
Union League club and other New
York organiza tons where ne could
meet capitalists who might help him
IN his fght.
10 Made day and night constant
terror by threats OF almost every sor..
IL. Halted letters written by Pro
fessors Corwin, Campbell and White,
TO President Wilson bearing on his
case.
II Stopped the investigation by the
department OF justice into his claims
And all this is but the start, he
fears.
What the next blow Will be he does
not know. Tuesday afternoon the sec
ond hearing in habeas corpus proceed
ings will be heard In the fight being
made TO prevent his being taken back
10 Pennsylvania TO face statutory
charge brought by bis former wife
from whom he was separated several
years ago by the courts and. as he
supposed. divorced.
Years ago the fight started when
Mr. Burke wrote book entitled
Thistle Sifters." Ii was a modest
little volume, but in II were winged
words OF revolt against the organl2a-
ton OF capital, although the writer at
the time was member OF the very
class he held up to scorn.
Burke declares that book was taken
TO No. 26 Broadway, where the pow.
ers and the Silent One" read II and
passed Judgment. Because he was
great chemist and great organizer
and oil expert, a representative Of the
silent One came TO him, he says.
and told him he would be forgiven II
never again he would offend lie did
not promise
Shortly afterward he discovered
the process that, he claims, will en-
able him 10 turn oil into gasoline at
cost OF less than cent gallon
This discovery has been the dream
OF all rehners for many years lts
success means loss of millions 10
the Standard unless they control the
process, Burke says.
RE organized an independent com
pany and started operation. The
Black Watch the same day. he says,
started its work OF crushing. Ills
machinery was broken. his product
filled with acids a committee from
the Standard company refused TO
watch tests under the eye OF the
Burns detectives, bat demanded
secret test. In a little while the
stockholders OF his company began
10 desert him His credit was stopped
His patents we're held up. His friends
suddenly became distant The power
OF the organization was working. He
was forced TO the wall. Ills former
wife suddenly appeared and warned
him ne says, that he must give UP the
fight. He refused A few weeks later
she sworc TO charge against him
Burke, thinking himself divorced. had
married again. Gov Ferris held up
the extraditlon papers for six months
Blocked by lack OF capital Burke
could not organize his fight Jan. 10,
the last day OF allegiance came. He
was TO be taken to Pittsburgh and
from there. he declares. 20 prison
where his protests would be sllcnced
and his inventions forced from the
market. Percy W. Grose. an attoT.
ney. started the habeas corpus pro
ceedlugs. and. Tuesday. the fight had
drawn TO that point.
In the meantime President Wilson,
Speaker Champ Clarke. members OF
the cabinet. the department OF jus.
tice. and scores OF senators and con.
gressmen have been drawn lnto the
fight. Burke charges criminal con
spiracy. and his charges are now
under investigation.