Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-02
Administration Will Pay No At
tention to Overtures OF the
Beef Barons.
President Roosevelt Seeking No
Advice From the Trust
Representatives.
Complaints Of All Closes to Be
Given a Respectful
Hearing.


eral knox's rebuke to the New YORK
gentlemen who sought to arrange for a
conference between the beef barons
and the law officers of the government
clearly represents the attitude OF the
administration. Neither the president
nor the attorney general has invited
the beef barons or the representatives
of any other trust or combination
whose business methods are under IN
yestigation to conference. Inc AZ
tamnt TO create that impression Gomez
from, circles entirely outside the ad-
ministration.
IF any beef barons are coming tc
Washington with an impression 'lia'
thew have been invited, or that they
are 10 confer with the attorney gen
eral in any other way than Win .ne
official of the United States Whoss
duty it is to prosecute the VIOLATIONS VI
federal statutes, they are mls'aheh'
If they come and ask to be hearu re-
garding the complaints made asalhs.
them the president will hear them.
That has been his attitude from the
haeinning Of the inquiry into trust
methods. He is not disposed to take
o,y advantage of those who contfol
trusts or organize them, but ne mas
not and will not consult them as 10
the advisability of enforcing the Ia"
and bringing suits to that end.
President Roosevelt has very cleal
idea as to the dignity OF ms once
and as the executive he is consui.ins
only the attorney general and ms ad-
yisers in the department OF justice
in matters of such prosecutions. he
followed that course in regard to the
Northern railway merger and also III
regard to the alleged beer commune
He did not consult j. Pierpont Morgan
as to whom or how or where the pro-
ceedings should be begun against the
Northern Securities company. he con-
suited the attorney general, ana Wheh
that official was satisfied that sucf
a suit should be brought 1T was pup
licly announced that it would be done
He did not notify friends of Mr.. NOR
gan and Mr.. Hill two days In advance
of the public announcement, tha1 the!
might be prepared to protect thei'
stock in the market and avert panic
He followed the same course regard
ing the inquiry into the methods OIL tne
heef combine. He will follow the same
course regarding the combination OF
the Atlantic steamship lines which MI
Morgan is now perfecting IN l4ohuoi
The LAWYERS of the department OF JUS
tice are watching developments IN 'his
matter, for it is recognized as clearly
in defiance of the antitrust law. Inc
only question is as to whether MI
Morgan will be able to make ms or
ganization in such way as 10 aVoio
the laws of this country. He can
do this by making his combination
under English law.
If he forms corporation In this
country under the laws of New Jersey
as he did in the case of the Northern
Securities company, it will be in vio-
lation of the anti-tru law and so far
as the attorneys here can judge, on
all fours with the railway merger. II
is pointed out by the lawyers for the
government that the constitution shows
its first regard for commerce with
gress shall have the power to
regulate commerce with foreign ma
lions and among the several states
and with the Indian tribes"
The regulation of foreign commerce
was the first consideration OF the
trainers of the constitution. The pow
err to regulate commerce between the
states came second in the grant OF
power to congress. The Sherman
antitrust law declares illegal every
contract, combination, combine, OF
conspiracy for the purpose of mon
opolizing or restraining the commerce
among the several states or with for
eign nations. Mr.. Morgan's new COM
bine is therefore regarded as more Of
fensive to this government than his
railway merger, and when he has pro-
crossed so far as to make public tho
law under which his organization is
to be operated and where its head.
quarters is to be there will be very
searching investigation into Its le-
gality. 1t is assumed that Morgan will
locate his corporation in New Jersey
If he does, the power of the govern
ment is clear in the estimation of the
governments attorneys. If 1t Is not
located in this country the invcstiga
ton will be more difficult. But the
government can reach the American
line and all other ships in the combin'
which have an American register.