The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-11
RUN AGAINST LAW
STEEL MAGNATES SAID TO BE
VIOLATING AN OHIO
STATUTE
FIGHT IS ALREADY BEGUN
National Antitrust League, Headed
by Mayor Tom johnson, of CieVc-
land, Has Already En-
gagged Counsel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug 1O.-Columbus
will be the storm center In Ohio, it is
stated of the fight between the Anal
eamated association and steel compan' e5.
The contest promises to be unique in that
the Amalgamated men VIII fight with the
law, and if the federal or state authori-
ties are appealed to, civil and criminal
proceedings will be brought, it is declar-
ed, against the officers of the constituent
companies of the United States Steel cor
poration Tor alleged violation either of
the antitrust laws or the foreign cor
porations law, which requires that for
eign corporations shall certify that they
are doing business in the state, and shall
pay into the secretary of state one-tenth
of l per cent of their capital stock Legal
representatives of the Amalgamated as
sociaton claim that the United States
Steel corporation has noj, in fact. bought
tie stock of the constituent companies,
and therefore has been in violation of the
Valentine antitrust law Of Ohio.
The National Antitrust league, which
Is headed by Johnson, of Cleveland, has
retained former Attorney General Mon
uolt. Information has been sent, it is
stated, to all Amalgamatad association
lodges in Ohio that the law must take its
course, and that the law will be sufficient
protection for the strikers.
1t develops that independent of the
legal action which is to be brought
against the United States Steel corpora
ton by the Antitrust league action is
also contemplated by the secretary Of
state Ii is believed by that official that
the United States Steel corporation is do
ms business in Ohio contrary to law The
Co pOratiOn has never been admitted a
foreign corporation to do business in
Ohio, although the property controlled by
il i'm this state is represented by several
million dollars worth of stock upon
which, if the Ohio companies have really
IeCn absorbed, the state is entitled to
collect tax Of one-tenth of l per cent,
unGer what is known as the Hard law,
tho constitutionality of which was re-
Gently sustained by the supreme court.
The secretary Of state has been investi-
eating the matter, and mas come to the
conclusion that the United States Steel
corporation IS liable as a foreign corpora
ton to the payment of the tax, which
would amount to probably more than
S10j coo. IL was stated by Chief Clerk AL
read, of the secretary of states office,
tcnight that notices would probably be
sent to the steel corporation during the
coming week calling attention to it's OBJ
hsation under the law and requesting
compliance with it. Should the plea be
made that the Ohio companies have not
been absorbed, and are operating under
HEeir original charters, the United States
Steel corporation will be attacked under
the Valentine antitrust law, which pro-
hibits the operation of companies holding
the stocks of other companies.
The constituent companies of the Unit
ed States steel corporation licensed to do
business in Ohio are the American Sheet
company, the American Tin Plate COM
Dany, the Federal Steel company, the Ma
tional Steel company and the National
Tube company. If these companies have
BEEN purchased outright by the United
States Steel corporation, then it is claim
ed the latter is amenable to the Hard law
taxing foreign corporations doing bust
ness in the state, and for the violation of
which severe penalties are provided. For
elgn corporations failing to comply with
this law have no standing in the Ohio
courts, and their officers are punishable
by fine not exceeding $500 and imprison-
ment not exceeding six months