The sun., 1902-05-01
KNOX DECLINES TO MEET THEM
SHARP LETTER TO REPUBLICAN
CLUES BEEF COMMITTEE.
The Attorncy-Generai Refuses TO Allow
the Republican Clubs Committee TO
Arrange Conferences Between Him
and Representatives OF the Beef Trust.

WASHINGTON, April 3o.-Precisely what
interest the Republican Club Of the city OF
New York has to serve in connection with
the Government prosecution Of the So
called Beef Trust is not clear to the Depart
ment Of Justice. Two or three days ago a
committee OF the club asked for conference
with Attorney General Knox. The request
was granted in conservative terms. Having
made this much headway in their effort to
settle the Beef Trust question for the Gov
ernment the committee announced In a letter
that they would be on hand at the Attorney
Generals Office on Thursday and that they
would bring with them the Presidents OF
the great meat companies Now. Mr..
Knox had expressly told the committee by
letter that he could not treat with the Beef
Barons." Mr.. Knox did not say Beef
Barons," but that is the term used by MIR.
Alfred l.. NJ. Bullowa Of the Republican
Clubs committee in his letter to Mr.. Knox.
So the Attorney General sent this telegram
to the committee with the purpose (es-
pecially in the first sentence) OF leaving
no room FOR doubt regarding his meaning,
Answering you letter of April 20. your
action @ Ieanesi1g representalVes @ o, paas
BY my letter Of April 2s, and was without my
knowledge OF any intimation 10 me that
letter Of the 2sth, 70 which replied by tele.
graph to the effect that knew no interest OF
Government 70 be subserved by such con
| must decline to be present j regret that
YOU have assumed TO arrange conferences
ton. nanO' ''' = c RNoX. httorney-General,
Attorney General Knox's first intimation
of the Republican Clubs interest in the
Beef Trust proceedings was contained in a
letter received on the 2sth from the com
\ -. III Al q La,
the committee felt competent to settle the
beef business, but were willing 20 allow the
Acknowledgement to be a party to the pro-
| ceedings The writer OF the letter asked
Mr.. Knox when he could meet them in New
| York or when he could meet them In his
| own Office, adding that the whole business
| could be settled by bringing the Beef
Barons" along with them. Mr.. Knox re-
piled that he saw no interest TO be subServed
| by meeting the representatives of the meat
ombination (which was hts mild way OF
| stating ir, but that II the committee Of the
| Republican Club had anything to tell the
| Government they might communicate with
| United States Attorney Bothea OF Chicago,
who has charge of the Governments prose-
cution. Later he wrote that he would re-
| celve the committee here.
| Upon receiving a letter from the COM
| mittee. evidently written before his last
| letter was received. Mr.. Knox consented
TO meet them. The consent was conveyed
| in the following telegram;
As ! wrote you yesterday, / will meet
your committee at o'clock on Thursday
afternoon II you have anything to commu-
nicate OF value to the Government along
the lines il has adopted
This morning the Attorney-General re-
| ceived still another letter from the COM
mittee, ANNOUNCING that they would appear,
accompanied by the following representa-
| tives OF the meat companies; c. +. Swift,
j. Ogden Armour, j. Lyman Of Hammond
a Co, Edward Morris, Michael Cidahy
and Frederick Sulzberger.
II was in reply to this letter that Attorney
General Knox sent the telegram expressing
regret that the committee assumed TO
arrange conferences which misrepresented
the Governments position Under the
circumstances Mr.. Knox does not expect
to meet the meat packers tomorrow.