Evening star., 1934-01-16
OIL CODE VIOLATION
CHARGED IN SUIT
U. S. Asks Injunction to Ban
Babe Ruth Contest by
Standard Oil.

The Federal Government filed suit
in District Supreme Court today against
the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
charging violation of the oil code and
asking an injunction against the COM
pany to prevent it from giving premiums
The action was filed on behalf of
Secretary Ickes. the oil administrator.
Hearing on the suit was set for Janu-
airy 30.
The suit was the first to be filed
against major oil company for alleged
violation of the code.
The specific charge was that the
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey and its
subsidiaries had inaugurated a so-called
Babe Ruth" prize contest for boys and
had refused to accede to a request by
the oil administration to discontinue
the practice.
Contest Widely Advertised.
The suit said the contest had been
widely advertised in the District of
Columbia and half a dozen other
nearby States by poster newspaper and
radio. Attached as a part of the petit
tion was copy of The Evening Star
OF January last, containing an ad-
vertlSement stating that Ruth the we'll
known home run hitter. would tell over
he radio how he is offering $3.50 prizes.
The petition charged. also, that the
Standard Oil Co. is publishing and dis
tributlng, or causing to be published
and distributed, paper entitled Babe
Ruth'S Newspaper" containing details
of the prize contest. The Government
charged that numerous advertisements
| also have been published in other news
papers in the District of Columbia and
other States named in the petition.
The charge also is made that on every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday since
January the company has sponsored
a radio program advertising the con-
est. Among the chain Of stations listed
in the petition as having broadcast the
program is WRC. local station of the
National Broadcasting Co.
Hold Code Violated.
In the contest, coupons were alleged
to have been given to children who in
turn distributed them to friends. rela-
tives or neighbors to be presented one
at a time by adults to Standard sta
tons and dealers.
Prizes were to be given to the boy or
girl credited with the greatest number
of coupons turned in in his or her
name, it was claimed
The complaint further cited that
since January 3 the Standard by radio
programs had advertised the contest
over various stations.
The defendant has announced its
intention of continuing the said contest
and has refused to discontinue it al
though requested to do So" the COM
plant charged The defendant
is unlawfully disregarding and disobey-
ing the provisions of the (oiD code and
the National Industrial Recovery Act in
transactions in or affecting interstate
or foreign commerce in petroleum prod
ucts and unless restrained or enjoined
will continue to do So"
The criminal penalties provided in
the National Recovery Act for code vio-
lations were termed in the complaint
inadequate" and it was further stated
unless injunctions were granted, the
purposes of the recovery act would be
"obstructed and the public interest en-
dangered and jeopardized"
The contest, the complaint said, was
being conducted in the District of Co.
lumbia and the following States:
Arkansas. Connecticut. Delaware,
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