The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1902-06-12
To President Roosevelt.

Your attention Is respectfully called
10 that portion Of the sherman anti
Trust law which declares criminal any
conspiracy in restraint OF trade and
names a perally therefor You will
notice that the law reads: Every
person who shall monopolize OF al
tempt TO monopolize, or combine or
conspire with any other person OF per
sons ~ mOnOpUlize any part Of the
trade or commerce among the several
Statc5 or with foreign rAlious, shall
(not MAl) be deemed guilty Of
misdemeaGur, aud on conviction there
Of shall be punished by fine not eN-
oeeding %, 200, or by imprisonment
not exceeding one year, or by both
said puaishments, In the discretion Of
the court
You arc the chief executive Of this
nation aud as such are not only EN-.
powered, but are required, to enforce
the law. BY commencing civil &C
ton against the members Of the beef
trust you declare that the members Of
that trust are In your opinion guilty
Of violation OF the law. Why do
you hesitate TO commence a criminal
aclion2 The penalty fSed 10 the
statute Is insignificant compared with
the penalty prescribed for a violation
OF less important statutes. When
mao violates The Internal revenue laws
there Is no hesitation about proseen-
lion, although the license fee Is small
ard the Gne for selling without license
heavy 10 proportion 10 the crime. III
the members ui the beef trust have
raised the price Of meat one cent per
pound, they have laid tax If millions
Of dollars upon the people Of The
United States, and il means an enor-
nous profit to themselves. A fne Of
s5, 900 is Insignificant, aud a year In
the penitentiary would be small pun
ithmcnl compared with that which Is
given 10 a man Eho steals a horse OF
a hundred dollars. Why do the p9em-
bes Of the beef trust escape criminal
punishment Is IL because Of their
respectability9 II the doctrine of equal
rights to all aud special privileges to |
none applies to the administration of
Justice, there can be nc such thing as
respeciabili,y among those guilty Of
violation Of the laws Of the couatry.
Does their wealth shield themf Ger
taiuly no one will justify the mild
treatment Of n rich criminal and tho
harsh treatment Of q poor ono. Are
they favored because n Tho political
influence they cxertf Surely the Re-
publican party has fallen from its first
estate II rich trust magnsles can vio-
late the Law With impunity and defy
the authority Of the United States.
lmpeFialisls have placed The dollar
sbove the rights OF the FIlIpsnos, bu,
will your administration show partial.
iiy 10 the enforcement Of The Law 10
the United States because Of the bus
incss interests or political contributions
Of ;hose who ooaspira against tho well
fare OF tho public9
II Is publicly stated that some OF
the eapiIalisls have condemned you
for attempting to enforce the antitrust
law even by civil process; Il Is even
hiuted that they thFeaiea to oppose |
your denomination u Jon show The |
stTennonSncss Ia this direction which |
you have shown toward the Filipians,
but can you be scared by snoh threats7
Iou have shown physical courage aud |
bravery upon the bsiGleGeld--yon we're
not afraid Of bullets when any ons Of
them might bare taken your life; will
you now fear 10 face concentrated
wealth. Civil suits may annoy the |
''oaptains Of industry" but II son arc
going 10 ''shackle eunalng' yna will |
have rs shsckle IL with oiimleal lass. |
A prIson cell win prove more effective |
in The prevcntion of monopoly than
judgments or DEGREES for the payment
of money. You have chance 10
show that you we're In earnest Whan
son made tia, Minneapolis speseh---so |
far you hare not eonviacsd even your
sssesis- The section Of the federal |
statute quoted above has already been
referred 10 In The conssaser, and ls |
reproduced for emphasis. II gill be |
reproduced again aud again. nns only
thai you may know the Law, foe yoa
arc presumed 10 know Il, but that The
peopla mar he reminded Of h ssso.
rhey haze 10 reason for feeling more |,
kindly toward the members at the bert |
irus, than they DO toward other sioiat-
srs ~ the law, and they will mot 40.
sept aEs excuse which yen raay give
for dealing ,endcrig with . lew rich |
parksfs who ccnspife against hs Whole ;;
sseoRIa.