The Washington times., 1901-08-13
PREPARING LEGAL BRIEFS
Antitrust Evidence Being Gath
cred by Labor's Counsel.
Result Warrants Asking Attorney
Generals Action Against the steel
Corporatton-Inform and Sub
scriptions Sought From the Public.

4
| The joint committee of the American
Antitrust League and OF District Assem-
| bly, No. Sc of the Knights of Labor met
again last night at the rooms OF the
former organization. 1z29 Pennsylvania
| Avenue and discussed the plans outlined
| to proceed against the United States
| Steel Corporation for violation of the
/ Sherman Antitrust law and the anti
| trust laws az the several States in which
the trust is operating. II. b. Martin. the
| chairman of the joint committee. presided
| and William l.. Dewart ofiiciated as Sec
| rotary.
The joint committee has Deem actively
at work for the past week collecting evil
dence with which to proceed against the
| trust, and now has its facts well In hand.
Much of the evidence already obtained
has been placed in the hands of counsel
| to be included in the bill of complaint
| against the corporation which the a:tor-
| neys are preparing An appropriation OF
| $500 was voted for the collection OF fur
i Their evidence and the payment Of counsel.
| Frank S. Monnett, former Attorney Gem
eral of Ohio. and A. A. Lipscomb. OF this
| city, who have been retained as counsel.
| will be assisted by Judge r. s. Tharin.
and it is probable that another lawyer
| Will De secured TO assist IN prosecuting
| the case in Ohio.
| A subcommittee for the collection of evil
dence was appointed comprising II. ].
Schulteis. Chairman; Thomas P. oDay.
Judge r. S. Tharin and Capt. Patrick
OFarrell
The joint committee is anxious that the
opponents OF the trust who have evidence
in their possession which would mate
rally aid the case should submit II to the
| committee. 1t is proposed to bring a case
| in the Federal courts for the violation of
| the Federal statute in causing a restraint
| of trade and commerce, and that other
actions shall be brought in Ohio. Illinois,
| and Pennsylvania under the State laws
| The districts in which procedure will be
| begun in the various cases have not yet
been decided upon. but the suits will be
| filed where the strongest cases can be
made out against the trust.
The committee has reached the decis-
| ion from tine evidence already in hand
that it is warranted in bringing the mat
/ ter to the attention of the Attorney Gen
| eral and asking MIN to proceed against
| the trust for violation of the law In
case he ignores the evidence and declines
| to act, the committee will appeal to the
| President for relief. and will then insti-
tute mandamus proceedings to compel the
Attorney General to file a complaint
against the trust. The same procedure
will be resorted to should the Attorneys
| General of the States refuse to proceed.
! as requested.
| The committee reported last night that
funds for the aid of the cause against the
| trust were coming in. considerable sum
| is required, however. to successfully carry
on the work. and public subscriptions are
asked for. A committee consisting of
Cotter T. Bride. the National Treasurer
F.! of the American Antitrust League; NJ.
c. Brink, ]. A. Collins, and Fl. ]. Schulz
tets was appointed to assist in the col
| lection of funds
In reply TO the statements recently made
by Representative Burton of Ohio that no
| intervention upon the part of the Gov
eminent in the steel strike is feasible, H
B. Martin. National Secretary of the
Antitrust League. points Out what he
considers would put an end to the eondi-
tons:
Let the Government prosecute the
trust under the provisions OF the Sner-
man Antitrust act and no further inter
vention will be necessary. IL 1t is diffi-
cult to secure evidence against the trust
for violation of the Antitrust law, let the
President. by the authority vested In MN.
direct the Attorney General to offer an
adequate reward for evidence that Will
convict the officers of the trust OF operat-
ing in violation OF the law
'sThe trust holds whip over its men
and threatens them with dismissal and
starvation should they divuige secrets OF
the business methods of the corporation
which would discover its operations IN
violation of law. Let reward which
would ensure a period of immunity from
starvation be offered, and evidence wouiu
be forthcoming