The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-08-15
ANTI TRUST Law.

Attorney-G General Miller has issued
letter of instructions to the sever;
United States district attorneys concern
ing the enforcement of the act of 1890 il
regard to trusts and combines. Tn
issuance of the instructions at this par
tlcular j%uncture is properly construed a
a warning to farmers about entering int,
the wheat trust. Here is the letter:
Department of Justice, Washington
Slr-four attention is directed to
statute enacted by the Fifty-first con
gress, ~ statutes p. ", entitled ian acr
to protect trade and apainst
unlawful restraint and monopolies.
lou Will please examine this law full,
with a view te ascertaining whether it il
being violated within your district. II
the facts justify you will use your best
efforts to indict and prosecute the
wrOngdOers as well as to enforce the
law by civil proceedings as provided in
this act.
At the time Of the passage of the law
to which reference is made, it was gen
orally supposed it was aimed at the oil
and sugar trusts and other kindred COM
binations which sought to control the
prices OF products of the country. But
these seem to flourish right along, only
n case, thus far and that down in
Tennessee, being tried under the pro.
visions OF this act. The Standard oil trust
stlll fiourishes like a green bay tree; the
sugar trust which Claus Speckles is
lighting because he was barred out of il.
and all the other big and little trusts to
which the people are paying tribute are
undisturbcd. They still have their in
ming and it appears the government
catch them out. But the farmers
are sized up as a soft snap and Attorney
General Miller proposes to 20 after them.
This year is the first year within the
of man when they hold the
top hand. Europe is short on wheat.
unfavOrable season will make it an
unusually heavy importer of brcadsturs.
inns country has a very large surplus.
The farmers have the opportunity of
making some money if they form "a com
'lnatlon to hold back their wheat for
iii prices. Spectators and middle
men see great profits slipping from their
il the farmers movement mate
lalizc and to head it off, Attorney-Gcn-
raj Miller, who takes his cue from the
Prospective STAT ~friers." fires the statute
gainst combines in the face of the
heat producer.
Farmers don't "fry" worth a cent. :
hey never contribute to the corruption
md OF political parties. But the great ,
and pools and combines are gen ,
Gus donors, and as long as the admin -,
tration protects and shields them from .
arm they will "put up" for it. The act =.
% protect trade and m against 3
nla"ful restraint and monopolies" has :.
tcrrors for them. Its sting is drawn !.
hen they run against its business end. :.
nc farmer, however, must take the con- :
quences it he violate that sacred law. =
Though 1t was not aimed at him At :
rney General Miller will see that it be 7
forced in agricultural quarters if the -
wheat combine be effected. =.
But tits quite possible the attorney gen v
al is on a false scent. 1t is possible
q indeed probable that the farmers of
country are not able to take advan-
or the opportunity which presents
They have experienced two very W
favorable seasons. The merchants 81
We been carrying them through. The tn
nks have carried the merchants. The ST.
nks are crOwding the merchants and m
merchants are crowding the farmers rlI
money. The latter can get it by let or
g their wheat go. They cannot hold nc
the strain and it is going. The ma
Mt OF capital alone prevents the farm 10.
from reaping the full fruits of the OF
'atlon. But as there is no law, save tn
law OF necessity, which compels them We
sell their wheat, many of them will 'f'
Il II for top figures, combine or no TIM
lblnc. In the meantime if the at of
lcy general will direct his attention col
The attention of the district attorneys rea
he great and powerful trusts, pools tho
outside of the agricultural thu
IONS a suffering people may rise up ma
call him blessed. is {
bul
Mountai Miner: The program VIII
Inc North Montana Fair association icol
ut meeting, to be held at Great Falls wo,