You probably didn't read the article because two sections below the one you linked (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil#Legacy_and_criticism_of_breakup h

You probably didn't read the article because two sections below the one you linked (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil#Legacy_and_criticism_of_breakup https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil#Legacy_and_critic...) states: > Some economic historians have observed that Standard Oil was in the process of losing its monopoly at the time of its breakup in 1911. Although Standard had 90 percent of American refining capacity in 1880, by 1911 that had shrunk to between 60 and 65 percent, due to the expansion in capacity by competitors. Which would clearly be impossible if Standard Oil was a monopoly. Your quote from a politician with ulterior motives does not prove a monopoly and even sounds economically dubious.