Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-06
Battle of Billions
For Standard Rule
ToOpen Tomorrow
Stage Set at Whiting for
Clash of John D., Jr.,
and Col. Stewart.
BY the Associated Press.

WHITING, Ind, March 6.-Oil. In
squatty tanks sunk deep in bare earth;
oil. forever settling in greasy film, its
penetrating smell ever present: oil
formed the background today for pic
ture unique In industrial history.
II was the end Of a Nationwide
scramble for stockholders votes to con-
troll billion-dollar corporation. the
Standard Oil Co. of Indiana-the cul-
mination of John D. Rockefeller, jr.'s
fight to force Col. Robert w. Stewart
from the Craftsmanship Of the board Of
directors.
OIL, p!ped hundreds Of miles from
Western FIELDS, Is the life-blood Of this
city Of 10000 inhabitants at Chicago's
back door, on the Southern shores OF
Lake Michigan. The huge refineries
employ approximately 80 per cent OF
the residents who are ready for the In
fiux Of stockholders tomorrow to attend
the annual meeting.
Restaurants Stocked.
| Restaurants were stocked with sup
plies for the anticipated 1000 or more
visitors, and hotels expected to have all
rooms taken, for indications were that
the meeting would last at least two days
unless the outcome was indisputably
determined by the number OF proxies on
hand In Chicago before the session
opened,
Just of the main street. the story
and-a-half brick Community House was
fitted out like q political convention
hall, with batteries of telegraph and
| telephone wires resting under the audi
| toriun stage, press tables In the orches-
| ira pit, loud speakers linking the mems
and woynen's gymnasiunis with the main
hall, and refreshment stands loaded to
capacity.
Indeed Whiting expected to witness 0
real convention fight, with Col. Stewart
sounding the keynote in his annual
business report, Rockefeller representa-
| tives presenting their side OF the argu-
ment, and individual stockholders being
heard from the floor. Mr.. Rockefeller
himself Is In Egypt.
"Moral Fitness" Is Question.
The meeting will first be called to
order at the refinery Offices, according
to law, and then, II the expected crowd
Is on hand, will adjourn to the Com
nunity House to decide on the moral
fitness" OF Col Stewart to continue Is
u company director.
Col. Stewart was asked what he would
tell the stockholders In defense Of his
activities with the Continental Trading
demand for his resignation.
Well, II they fiush ms I'll tell them
plenty" the great shouldered 6-footer
replied.
He will act as chairman to open the
meeting and then Is expected to sur
render the chair to z. G. Schubert
president as he did last year, inasmuch
as he Is under fire. Winthrop w. AID
rich, New York attorney, will be on
hand to speak for John D., jr., In any
night which may develop. He arrived
In Chicago Monday with 10000 proxies
In metal cases, under armed guard.
Aldrich Claims Victory.
Fiity-nine per cent of the more thar
1000. 900 shares Of Standard OIL stock
Mr.. Aldrich said.
/ The Rockefeller group has only 10000
OF the $4,000 stockholders on its side.
The big blocks Of stock, however, are
held by the Fasteners.
Col. Stewart had on his side the
| proxies of ee.67 per cent of the 1000
employe-stockholders. He claimed the
| proxies also OF nearly all the stock
holders In the Middle West.
unless the uncontested proxies Of one
side greatly outnumhered those 81 the
other, . long, tedious check at the meet
ing ID foreseen.
| Court Contest Is Seen.
Although Mr.. Aldrich denied other
Standard OH companies were behind
Rockefeller In his fight, and attorneys for
Col. Stewart denied any legal action was
contemplated, the runor persisted that
the contest might eventually find its
way into the courts. The grounds would
be that Rockefeller In opposing the COM
pany head, was violating the antitrust
act.
A suspicion that the Standard Oil
companies of New York New Jersey,
Kentucky and Louisiana, rather than
the younger Rockefeller, were conduct
ing the fight was expressed In the Senate
at Washington last week and again yes
terday. Col Stewart has been an in.
dividualist in his development OF the
Standard Of Indiana and has been criti-
cized for encfoaching on the territories
OF other oil companies.