The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-25

CHICAGO, April A-The war of the state
of Illinois against the great Chicago Gas
trust began today in the circuit court Of
Cook county. Attorney General MalOney,
two brilliant assistant attorney generals
and formidable array of legal talent
representing property owners of the city
of Chicago are to prosecute the quo war
ranto proceedings. and if the state is sue
cessful the charter of the ges trusS will be
revoked and the valuable francLi ies of the
various companies representing The associ-
alton become worthless as the profit-bea
ing mediums which have for SO many
years been favorably listed on the great
ttock exchanges of the country.
The filing of the petition of the attorney
general for permission to institute the pro-
ceedings of quo warranto was made public
shortly after o'clock this afternoon
after the closing of the stock exchanges
Of the country, in order that the matter
might not be made means OF influencing
the market; so that the effect on the stock
will not become apparent until tomorrow
morning. The interest on the street and
!. IN commercial circles, however. has been
intense, and the office of the attorney in
this city was beseiged by anxious in.
guirers Immediately after the news be-
rame public. To a representative of the
Associated Press the attorney general
said: Il have begun these proceed
Ings after careful deliberation and
pains-takiDg investigation, and because
l think the people Of Illinois
have just complaint against this trust.
There Das been no time in my career in
which l have posed rs an auti-corporation
man; for l believe that the corporations
have rights under the constitution aud tie
laws which should be respected But
when they disregard the laws of the state
and combine their capital and iNeir
franchises TO Cypress the people, it is the
duty of the law officers of the state to
wage a war for the disintergration of the
unlawful combination. That is what /
Lave asked to do in the petition filed today
IN the circuit court of Cook county, and of
course the court will open It's doors
TO the cause of the people l
merely want to say l have begun this
suit upon my own responsibility, and
in utter disregard of the structures that
have been 20 frequently made on various
sides. Ii L lose the suit which l am
about 10 wage to dissolve this trust,
L alone will take the responsibility;
If win 1t and rescue the public
from the extOrtions TO which | be-
lieve it has been unlawfuIly subjected. l
desire whatever credit the people of the
state of Illinois are willing To accord one
who has not been coerced from the perfor-
stake. and when this warfare is ended
Viii be willing to be weighed in the bal
ance of public opinion"
In the preliminary statement of his pc
tition the attorney general said:
When the petition and evidence in this
case was presented to me, notified the
representatives of the different CORPORA
tons of that fact. / felt it to be nv duty
to do so, for the reason that large property
interests were involved and fair play de-
manded that give those corporations and
their representatives an opportunity to be
heard before invoking the aid of the courts
OF this state TO pass judgment on their
acts and conduct. For, if successful. it
means To them, and each of them. corpo-
rate death; If not, then a grievous and
almost irreparable wrong would have been
done them by the hasty and inconsiderate
action Of state officer, whose sworn dnty
1t is to protect every legitimate property
interest in the state"