The proceedings in the latter part of 1908 by the Government to dissolve the Standard Oil are the most important ever instituted against this odious monopoly. It is almost incredible that, after 20 years of immunity, John D. Rockefeller should be forced to “show cause” why he should no longer be allowed to pursue his taciturn, undisputed spoliations. Frank B. Kellog, champion “trust-buster” has charge of the investigations which thus far have presented something the appearance of opera bouffe. The figures juggled with are so enormous, and the “forgetfulness” of Rockefeller, Archbold and other testifiers such conspicuous examples of humorous insolence, that the public mind is unprepared to hope for a satisfactory outcome to the investigation. The present administration has but a couple of months more in which to make its denunciations against the Standard Oil effective, after years of apparently righteous wrath and no one is greatly to be blamed for adopting a cynical attitude as to the expected result. * * * * * It _has_ been a bad year, this closing 1908, for the Tobacco folk. The victory of the tobacco growers of the Burley district of Kentucky early in December over the American Tobacco Company proves what a determined stand may accomplish on the part of the producer, without entering the Courts at all. It is safe to say that this Christmas will have been one of the happiest ever spent by the farmers of Kentucky, among whom some $20,000,000 will be circulating for tobacco grown and held over, some of it, for nearly two years. It will make for a peace and good-will in very truth, for the “night-riding” is considered at an end. * * * * * Capitulation to the tobacco growers of a limited section, however, is the least of the American Tobacco Company’s troubles just now, it having been declared, in suit brought by the government for its dissolution, to be a “combination in restraint of trade” which is amenable to the provisions of the Sherman Act of July 2, 1890. Appeal from this decision is being taken to the Supreme Court and upon the result of this “last resort” will hinge all that is vital in reference to the ability of the government to control the various kinds of industrial combinations engaged in inter-state traffic.