Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 15, 1907
The Marion Daily Mirror
Marion, Marion County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Hampton G. Westcott, VP of Standard Oil of Kentucky, testified in federal antitrust suit that Standard sold oil through fake independent companies in southern states to deceive public, discontinued two years ago. Company monitored competitors' shipments closely.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
STANDARD KEEPS TAB ON ITS RIVALS
FEW MOVES OF ITS COMPETITORS ARE UNKNOWN TO IT.
OFTEN FOOLED THE PUBLIC
In Many Southern States the Oil Trust Found It Expedient to Sell Its Product Through Companies Believed to be Independent.
New York, Oct. 15.-Hampton G. Westcott, vice president of the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, testified Monday in the hearing of the federal suit against the oil combine, that in several southern states the Standard had found it expedient to sell much of its products through companies believed to be independent. The practice of selling through so-called independent companies, which were owned by the combine, was discontinued two years ago, according to Mr. Westcott.
Mr. Kellogg, counsel for the government, drew from the witness that the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, which acts as a selling agent of oil in Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama, had purchased numerous small independent selling companies and through many of them sold oil to the consumer.
Some of the plants of these independents were dismantled and the business taken over by the Standard.
Mr. Westcott threw a sidelight on a business department of the Standard concerning which the federal counsel has been seeking information since the beginning of the inquiry. Mr. Westcott testified that each month the main office of the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, at Covington, sent to him not only the reports of the business operations of the Standard but statements concerning freight shipments and sales of oil by all competitors.
These statements, according to Mr. Westcott, gave the name of the consignor, the consignee, the amount of oil shipped and any information that might be available. Mr. Westcott said that after examining these statements he filed them with the statistical department in the Standard's office in this city. This statistical department, Mr. Westcott said, was in charge of W. E. Bemis, who kept records of the business of both the Standard and its competitors.
FEW MOVES OF ITS COMPETITORS ARE UNKNOWN TO IT.
OFTEN FOOLED THE PUBLIC
In Many Southern States the Oil Trust Found It Expedient to Sell Its Product Through Companies Believed to be Independent.
New York, Oct. 15.-Hampton G. Westcott, vice president of the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, testified Monday in the hearing of the federal suit against the oil combine, that in several southern states the Standard had found it expedient to sell much of its products through companies believed to be independent. The practice of selling through so-called independent companies, which were owned by the combine, was discontinued two years ago, according to Mr. Westcott.
Mr. Kellogg, counsel for the government, drew from the witness that the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, which acts as a selling agent of oil in Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama, had purchased numerous small independent selling companies and through many of them sold oil to the consumer.
Some of the plants of these independents were dismantled and the business taken over by the Standard.
Mr. Westcott threw a sidelight on a business department of the Standard concerning which the federal counsel has been seeking information since the beginning of the inquiry. Mr. Westcott testified that each month the main office of the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, at Covington, sent to him not only the reports of the business operations of the Standard but statements concerning freight shipments and sales of oil by all competitors.
These statements, according to Mr. Westcott, gave the name of the consignor, the consignee, the amount of oil shipped and any information that might be available. Mr. Westcott said that after examining these statements he filed them with the statistical department in the Standard's office in this city. This statistical department, Mr. Westcott said, was in charge of W. E. Bemis, who kept records of the business of both the Standard and its competitors.
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Standard Oil
Antitrust Suit
Fake Independents
Competitor Monitoring
Southern States
Oil Sales
What entities or persons were involved?
Hampton G. Westcott
Mr. Kellogg
W. E. Bemis
Where did it happen?
New York; Southern States Including Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama; Covington
Story Details
Key Persons
Hampton G. Westcott
Mr. Kellogg
W. E. Bemis
Location
New York; Southern States Including Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama; Covington
Event Date
Oct. 15
Story Details
Standard Oil sold products through owned companies posing as independents in southern states to fool public, discontinued two years ago; monitored competitors' shipments via detailed reports filed with statistical department.