Evening star., 1928-05-19

The recent pronouncement of the
United States Chamber of Commerce
demanding honesty in business Is linked
IN the public mind with the stand of
John ID. Rockefeller, jr., in favor OF
changes in the Standard Oil Co. His
demand that Robert w. Stewart resign
as head Of the board Of the Indiana
Standard Oil Co. Is widely commended
In view of the attitude OF Stewart In the
Federal oil investigation.
Nothing more dramatic has hap
pened i'll the world of American busi-
ness in this generation" says the ST.
Paul Pioneer Press than the bold de-
mand from John D. Rockefeller, ir. for
the resignation OF Col Robert w. Stew
art as chairman Of the board of the
Indiana Standard Oil Co" That paper
describes 1t as "a stroke of corporation
craftsmanship. sharp decisive. arbitrary.
yet In keeping with the new standards
of morality in big business"
The Chattanooga Times views the re-
quest as lin line with the declaration
of Judge Edwin b. Parker before the
United States Chamber OF Commerce
TO the effect that business should purge
itself of those who taunt the law and
abuse their power"
The New York Times also finds a
parallel TO the vigorous exhortation"
before the business men, urging big
business in this country to free Itself
from everything that popular sentiment
regards as q taint upon It." The Great
Falls Tribune feels that lit Is not too
much to hope that thousands Of busi-
ness men who heretofore have given
slight attention TO oil and other scandals
viii now line up with those who believe
In that old fashioned doctrine, Honesty
is the best policy" The Lynchburg
News contends that, as to Rockefeller
and Parker, two such conspicuous ex~
amples OF high regard for honesty IN
business and Of indignation at lawless-
ness and contempt for the public good,
will help greatly
The 2oanoke Wolld-News believes
that mo service John d. Rockefeller.
jr, has rendered In the field OF philan-
thropy or education or public health
can equal the service he has rendered In
the stand he has taken for business
decency." The Portland (Oreg) jour-
nal attests that Rockefeller has proven
himself a good American" and that
5lewart's own testimony proves him to
be IAN unfit man to retain leadership
In large American corporation"
other papers which connect the ac-
ton Of Rockefeller and the stand taken
by members of the Chamber OF Conn
merce OF the Nation are the Newark
Evening News Chicago Daily News and
Philadelphia Record. Rockefeller'a ac~
tion enhances the growing respect OF
the people for the leaders who have
helped To make this Nation what Il Is. -
In the opinion of the Schenectady Ga
zette, while the Richmond Newa~Leader
predicts that American business "will
50stracize the double deal just as 1t does
the thief"
1T will be interesting to see what sort
of a defense can be contfived by the
friends OF Col. Stewart. who are de-
scfibed as many and powerful, re~
marks the Hartford Times while the st,
Louis Times fears that the b0-odd
thousand minor stockholders In Stand
ard OH Of Indiana might prove relue~
tant To part with the commercial genius
ot the man who has been earning for
them their dividends" and the Balti~
more Sun ehafg y that There has been
absence IN many places OF righteous III"
dlgnntiuu." The Asheville Times, how
ever holds that Rockefeller gives voice
10 the sentiments OF all business men
who deplore the attempts OF powerful
leaders of industry 10 place themselves
above law and beyond the reach Of
wholesome moral standards,
1T h doubtful The Cincinnati Times~
Star believes, that Col Stewart can
defy the moral quality OF the Rockefeller
millions, lie Is In contempt of great
fortune, and that means more 10 man
Ut Col Htewnrt's stripe than 10 be Ia
contempt OF courts ar Senate" The
moral force 0f the Rockefeller demand
also Is emphasized by the Buffalo Eve-
ning News, the Tuiaa World and Hellr
ingham Herald,
"WiI the stockholders" asks the
Utica Observer Dispatch, assume the
hinh position which John ID larkf~
feIler. jfa has taken, or VIII they cnnfirin
cial 10 make 4 little honest graft aa long