The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-03
FlGRTIAG THE TRUSTS.
Obscure Methods of the Govern
,ment in Applying Antitrust
Law.

tion.iinto those concerns. This lnves-
tipation, while suppose to be secret,
has been carefully allowed to leak out
So as to convince the public that the
department is in earnest in seeking
to crush these octopi. Already, how
ever. it is insinuated that there is not
law enough to reach them ana nye.
and bye this will be openly stated:
Then will follow a suggestion that
Congress should do something nR-WhlcA
Congress, knowing It's business, Will
of course not do.
This was substantially the position
taken By Attorney General Griggs,
who asserted that the trusts would
hurt themselves more than they could
hurt anyone else, and that the law
could not reach them, anyway, and
therefore declined to prosecute them
to any considerable extent. Mr.. Griggs
was an able corporation lawyer, tamil f-
lar with the methods and devices OF
such institutions. He was for this
reason admirably equipped for cam
paign against all combinations which
are operated in violation Of the law.
He knew the weak spots In their armor
and might have attacked them where
they were most vulnerable. Never
theless, hewas content to let the trusts
pursue the tenor of their way, andthey
have no cause to complain OF his pern1-a
cious activity in interfering with
their operations.
In the past few years the Govern
ment has secured decisions in two.
cases against railroad combinatlons
and also. against combination of
cast iron pipe manufacturers. The
trusts which control oil, steel, paper,
sugar, rope and other articles in gene
raj use have not been called upon to
defend themselyse. Mr.. Knox, equal
II with MI. Grisgg, is qualified to at
tack these combinatio He was for
years the trusted council for one OF.
the greatest steel manufacturers the
world has ever known. He under
stands thoroughly the ingenuity OF
corporation in evading laws designed
to restrict their operations. With all
respect for his high and honorable
Office, it may be assumed that he is
familiar with the :. tricks Of the
trade. . He ought to prove power
ful enemy Of the trusts if he is really
in earnest in his fight. So far 1t has
not been disclosed to the public Just
what trusts are being looked into, this
being known only to the inyestiga=
tors, though general warning has
been issued through the press
But the officials Of the Attorney
Generals office are, it IS said, doing.
their utmost to obtain such informa<.
ton as viii enable them to make a
strong case. The work is necessarily
of an arduous character. Every pre-
caution must be exercised against too
much publ This doubtless ex-
plains the recent interview with an
anonymous officer Of the Department
on the subject.
The first information which must
be secured relates~to the character OF
the arrangements which obtains among:
the several consti ttuent4actor Of the
trusts in question. Nextsit must be
determined whethert his compact.
when in force, violates the spirit and
intent OF the anti-trust law. 1t IS
easy to appreciate the difficulties
which may Be encountered In an effort
to learn of the terms under which the
amalgamation of interests was effect
ed. Trusts are not required to make
public such contract. Therefoe IN
formation of this character must be
procured in a quiet way. This is why
progress is announced in the newspa-
pers.
The law on the subject is plain. It
may be summarized as follows -
Every contract, combination in the
form of trusts or otherwimse, or con-
spiracy, in restraint of trade or COM
merce among the several States, or
with foreign nations, is hereby de-
clared to be illegal. Every person,
corporation, or association that shall
monopo1ize OF attempt to monopoize,
or combine or conspire with any 9TH
.ers to monoplize any part OF the trade
or commerce among the several States,
or with foreign nations, shall be.
deemed guilty Of misdemeanor.
Every contractor combination In the
form Of trust or otherwise, or conspl-
racy in restraint of trade or commerce
between any Territories or States, or
between any States or foreign nations.
is hereby declared illegal.
Under this, the steel trust, the
charter for which MI. Knox is credit
ed with having prepared, is of course
distinctly illegal. 1t will be interest
ing to see whether he will now de-
stroy the work of his hands.