The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-21

zen; but It is a public matter, in which
| all the people of the United States have
a right to the fullest and freest
knowledge of all action that is taken.
Attorney General Knox says: Neither
ut the time OF the formation of the
United States Steel Corporation nor AZ
any time was | officially connected with
the Carnegie Steel Company. This looks
like a very sweeping denial on the part
of the Attorney General to the many
charges that have been made in the pub
lie press to the effect that he was former
ly connected with the Carnegie Company
or the Steel Trust. But the force and eff
feet of this denial are entirely destroyed
by the remarkable admission which the
Attorney General makes in the next SEN
tence, when he says: L was formerly one
of its legal advisers in the conduct of its
manufacturing business. This language
of the Attorney General certainly looks
evasive in view of the fact that it is cur
rently believed that the members of the
steel combine selected one of their former
attorneys for Attorney General in order
that they might have friend at court in
time of popular clamor for the enforce
ment of the law against trusts
our letter itself contained the state
ment at the beginning. that ours WAS a
Committee for the Civil and Criminal
Prosecution of The United States Steel
Trust, and Others Is this language am
biguous2 Does II leave any doubt in the
mind of the Attorney General as to the
nature of the legal proceedings we are
about to undertake?
Furthermore. does the Attorney Cen
eral desire to put himself in a position
before the people of the United states. of
saying that If the papers containing the
discriminating evidence of the violations
of the law of the United States. which he
Is sworn to enforce and punish violators
of. were accessible to him, that II IL a
question whether he would furnish them
for use in legal proceedings. instituted by
citizens for the purpose of furnishing vio-
latorS of the law? And yet the Attorney
Senerai intimates to us that there Is
question whether, If he possessed these in
eliminating documents, that h would
either use them himself or permit any
one else to use them to secure the con
vlction OF the great trust criminals, who
are violating the Federal statute against
the organization of trusts, destroying
freedom of competition in the business
world. and driving all competitors into
bankruptcy, crushing labor organizations
with an iron hand. and instiiuting reign
of terror in the iron and steel industry,
which threatens. TO involve the country in
a civil war.
Now the people of the United States
cannot afford to have any doubt or I'M
certainty as to whether their Attorney
General, who enjoys the honors and emol-
unents OF that high Office and draws his
pay from the taxes exacted from the
wealth producers. is willing or unwilling
to perform the duties of his position and
enforce the laws as his oath of Office
requires him to against the criminal
trusts. Mr.. knoX's letter intimatos that
there is a doubt about this Can he af-
ford to rest Under the cloud which that
doubt raises?
We viii give him an opportunity now
to reassure the people as TO his desire and
intention to enforce the law against
trusts. VIII Attorney General Knox Of
fer a reward for The production of the
incrimirating evidence against the trusts
for which we asked. and which he says
he does not posse IS? VIII he announce
tomorrow that The Department of jus
tice Of the United States viii pay a sub
stantial reward. say anywhere from 5000
to SJO.OoJ. 10 any person or persons who
Will produce evidence that Will lead to
the arrest and conviction of any person
or corporation guilty of violating the Fed
eral statute against trusts.
Let him do this and institute vigor-
Gus proceedings against trust l3wbreak-
ers. and the people will no longer have
doubts to his faithfulness to his oath
of office. And he will no longer be the
target for criticism, innuendo, and invec-
tive on the part of the press, because of
the fact that while the trusts ride rough
shod over the people the Attorney Cen
eral. who is the sole officer under the
Federal law who is vested with authori-
ty TO prosecute them, refuses to take any
action. "