Nashville, Apr. 15, State officials to-day filed ssu against the Standard Oil Ca. of charging unfair competi-he anti-trust Jaw, as well as fraudulent entry into Tennessee. quested the state courts to order of "pert of the company's operations in the state of Tennessce—United Press.
U. S. Companies and Shell Group Fort Worth, Tex, Apr. 18, The leaders of the independent petroleum producing concerns of States assembled here ith the avowed purpose of organizing a war on the Royal Dutch Shell organizations on the grounds the Shell interests are establishing filling stations and dis. tributing foreign petroleum and petroleum products.
Mr. Wirt Franklin, the leader of the independents, said the fight will [be directed at treaties permitting. the Shell organizations to operate regardless of the alien land and property laws of the various states.
Apr. 19.
Representatives of the independent petroleum companies of the United States, meeting here to-day, decided not to seek state leg} designed to improve their condition until Congress has taken steps to restrict importation of crude oil on a basis of a duty of G1 a barrel.
The meeting was held under leadership of Mr. Wirt Franklin, eho recently took a delegation to Washington to present the protariff ease of the independents. According to Mr. Franklin, there tne over-production of oil in America siespite propaganda to that effect, while the large companies are importing quantities of foreign oil against which there is no tariff barrier—United Press.
Tt was subsequently decided by the independents that they would give 50 per cent. of all dues from the various state independent organizations to a national body, to be used in a campaign on behalf of a petroleum tariff.
This action is subject to adoption a general convention to be held, next week.—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.