The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-20
WHAT ENFORCEMENT OF
THE LAWS CAN DO,

While the Democratic State Conven-
Republican party as trust promoter
and fosterer, the proceedings instituted
by Governor Odell, Of New York-a
Republican-under the antitrust laws
enacted by a Republican Legislature
were bearing fruit in the shape of the
most effective injunction yet issued
against the beef trust. The injunction
proceedings were not only instituted by
direction of Republican Governor-an
example Governor Nash might follow
with profit to the people OF OhiO-but
were prosecuted by q Republican
Attorney General, until an injunction
was granted in the Supreme Court by
Chief Justice Alden Chambers.
So broad in its scope is the antitrust
law, and 80 effectively was the prosecu-
ton conducted, that the promoters,
managers and agents Of the beef trust
are parslyzed in the conduct of opera
tions under the agreement, or combine,
an absolute dissolution of the trust In
New York, or q complete stoppase Of
business. They are effectively
restrained from carrying out the black
list sgreement-amongo other things
and in that agreement was one of the
very strongest means for maintenance
of high prices, or prices that suited the
whim of the members of the combine.
So broadly is the order of injunction
drawn, that no possible loophols Ct
escape remains to the trusters. For
Justice to take the beef trust by the
throat In the great State Of New York,
and emphatically put stop TO its meth:
DDS Of doing business, ana its methods
Of extortions, is most happy illustra-
tion Of what the law can do when its
machinery is properly put in motion.
There is nothing Gov. Odell could
have done better to illustrate the sim
certify of the Republican party in its
intention to suppress unlawful COM
bines, especially when they affect the
prices of the necesssries Of life. than
that which he has done, and nothing
that will more emphatically teach the
Lesson to the violators OF the antitrust
laws OF his State. 1t is not surprising
that the beef trust magnates are aston
ished. They had come to regard them
selves as above the law, and with them
1t was to laugh when judicial proceed
ings were instituted to restrain them In
their methods OF regulating the prices
of their commodities, and 1t was
especially q subject Of merriment when
proceedings were begun in the courts
of State. There are more efficient
laws against trlsts on the statute books
of the several States than on the statute
books OF the United States, for the lat
ter can only intervene when interstate
commerce is involved. But the laws of
both jurisdictions should be enforced to
the letter and to the spirit, for it is the
spirit Of both that the public should be
protected from combinations in re-
straint Of trade and for the purpose of
increasing prices.
Undoubtedly the beef trust is In the
tolls In New York. 1t must leave the
State or dissolve and obey the law, and
public opinion Is 30 overwhelmingly
against 1t that there Is little danger OF
Its escaping the consequences Of any
disobediepce' Of the injunction. The
public is coming TO its own. but 1t Is
the Republican party that Ia bringing
about the meeting by practical meas
ures, and the New York Republican
action Is the best answer to the Indiana
Democratic assertion, for 1t shows that
Republicanism acts while Democracy
talks.-Commercial-T Tribune.