Evening star., 1928-05-10
Rockefeller and Stewart.

Tit was difficult at one time TO rec
cncile the many philanthropic and al
truistic endeavors OF John D. Rockefel-
Ter. jr.. with what appeared to be his
tacit condonation OF questionable tac-
tics on the part Of one OF his lieutenants
in the oil industry, the correspondence
made public today between Mr.. RocEe-
feller and Col. Robert w. Stewart.
chairman of the board Of the Standard
OH Co. of Indiana, removes that DIM
Guilty and puts Mr.. Rockefeller in an
ALTOGETHER favorable light Last Feb
ruary Senator Walsh introduced corre-
spondence which showed that It was
Mr.. Rockefeller's commendable inter-
vention that led Col Stewart to drop
his defiant attitude toward the oil In
vestisators and agree TO come to Wash
inston. And. later, Mr.. Rockefeller. APP
pearing before the committee. frankly
told the investigators that he disap-
proved OF Col. Stewart's testimony.
But on March last, after Mr.. Rocke-
felier had said that Col. Stewards re-
tention Of his post as active head OF the
Standard Of Indiana was "a question
which the stockholders should, of
course. and viii consider as the matter
develops" the stockholders met and re-
elected Col. Stewart as chairman Of
tire board. Their action was interpreted
"a Col. Stewart's vindication by the
OH industry. Mr.. Rockefeller did not
vote. And his hands of" attitude was
criticized. II appeared that while Mr.
Rockefeller did not approve Of Col
stewart's actions. his disapproval was
of q passive type that meant little
Bearing o name that ia synonymous
with power in the oil industry. Mr..
Rockefeller. It vas felt, was not using
that power altogether righteously.
The correspondence made public to-
day tells another story entirely. 1t
sho~s that three days after Col. Stew
arts remarkable testimony before the
Senate oil committee, last month, m
which there appeared "irreconcilahle
discrepancies" in his statements relat-
ing to receipt Of the famous continen-
tai Trading Co.'s profits. Mr.. Rockefeller
wrote TO Col. Stewart asking him to
''make good the promise you voluntarily
gave me some weeks ago. that you would
resign at my request. That request I
nov make" It appears that later Col.
Stewart suggested q special meeting Of
the stockholders. that they. also. might
register their wishes In the matter. and
to this Mr.. Rockefeller has agreed
The correspondence. 81 made public,
implies that after Col Stewart agreed
to resign when Nr. Rockefeller request
ed II. he has since changed his mind
ana decided not 10 quit under FIRE. II
he eeci6es 70 make q fght for his Job
by calling special meeting of the
stockholders, IL viii be interesting to zee
whether Mr.. Rockefeliers fifteen per
cent Of the more than nine million
shares Of Standard of Indiana holdings
viii give him the control necessary to
Gust Col. Stewart. or whether Col. Stew
arts friends win rally 10 his aid and
retain him. despite Mr.. Rockefeller.
That. however. and the fight that Col.
stewart may decide To make. are rela-
lively unimportznt. The important
thing IL that a leading fieurs In the
oil industry has voluntarily and whole
heartedIy joined the Senate in ih at
tsnpt To clean up bad spots. Judge
Parker's plea N the business men Of the
Nation 70 90 their own housecieanine
has been anticipated, In one quarter
81 least.