Oil Trust.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1910, Page 4

Oil Trust.

FIGHTING FOR ixS LIFE,

Before a full bench of .the Supreme Count, writes the Washington correspondent of tho "Daily Chronicle" —the court of last appeal in tho United States—the Standard Oil Company has now for two days been fighting for its life, presenting arguments through .the loading counsel of the -Missouri Circuit Court, and to show why it should not be dissolved.

A ill ost of lawyers have been engaged in getting up itlie case for the "octopus," ami the keynote' of the defence is the so-called preservation of the "rights of individual citizens of the United States." Mr John Mililmrn, of Now York, mrgued to-day for -fche defence that the seven individual defendants, the Rockfeller brothers and their associates, created the business in 1862, and its present extent is the natural development of energy and capital. "By creative skill and'.the steady reinvestment of early profits," declared counsel, "these men and their associates created out of an entirely new production of crude oil the universally used and cheapest illuminnnt the world has eves known." Counsel declared that tthese individuals have never acted' in restrnn'nt of trade, but have alwnvs used every means to cheapen the product, and are really the World's benefactors.

Naturally tliere is immense interp.«+ in , tin l pa Pβ. n,= the .StnnrlnrrT Oil is the chief .p.F American trnfvhs. >nnd Vp« n on pita i of ovar .i2o.nno.ono. niul wliose yenrlv profits amount to niopo up-in p.an.nno.ono.