West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-02-19

lent defense against tho evidence now In
the hands OF tho attorney general, should
he begin proceedings against them. A
pretended division between them and the
80 called independent" operators has
been arranged whereby these so called
independents" who are utterly I'm the
power OF the trust shall seem to COM
pete with the trust and so prepare the
ground for tho false contention that the
trust In not monopoly. but n legitimate
business organization subject TO competi-
tion. Az the immediate result OF this
counterfeit rivalry the price OF coal has
been doubled.
As n citizen regardful OF the public well
fare, Mr.. President, 1 respectfully repre-
sent TO you that the law officer OF your
administration has beon and In remiss In
his duty In not proceeding against the
coal trust on the evidence OF it's unlawful
character supplied by me 10 him last year.
BY that failure In duty no has enoour-
aged the coal trust to take advantage OF
nituauon largely OF itB own creation.
not merely TO persist In ita customary
pillage or tho people, but 10 enormously
Increase the scale OF its extortion.
The submission OF evidence TO your Mt
torney general and my appeal 20 him 10
apply the law to the coal trust having
up TO this time resulted IN no action on
his part. turn from him 20 you.
In your public speeches and messages,
Mr.. President, you have often declared
your conviction that the great combina-
tons OF capital commonly known as
trusts should be subjected to the fullest
publicity and brought within tho regu-
loting control OF tho law. to the end that
tho public whio pronting by the con.
centration OF capital In business may be
protected against the incidental evil ef-
fccta OF that concentration,
l submit. sir. that there II no other
combination OF capital I'm the country
more contemptuous OF law than tho coal
trust, and further submit that tho most
effective method OF subjecting II 90 pub
licity Is TO bring IL into court to answer
for its Illegal offenses.
The attorney general OF the United
States In your servant. lie must obey
your commands or give way TO a sue
censor who will do TO-
L appeal TO you, therefore. Mr.. Preal--
dent, 10 command your attorney general
TO proceed against tho coal trust, both
oiviliy and criminally on tho evidence OF
It's unlawful acts laid before him by me
or explain 10 the people OF the United
States his reasons for not doing So n
reasons suitable for public avowai he has.
Tho people OF the United States, Presi-
dent Roosevelt. have a right to expect
action from you against the trusts in
general and the coal trust in particular.
NO conspicuous public man OF your party
has so vchemently as yourself expressed
desire TO protect the public from spolIa-
tion nt tho hands OF combinations OF
predatory capital, and you have we'll said
mat WORDS arc good when backed up by
deeds. and only So"
What better proof OF your sincerity
could you give, what better deed in sup
port OF your words could you DO, than by
moving at once upon this insoient iaw-
breaker and wholesale robber OF tho peo-
pic. the coal trust7
As n citizen I have done my duty IN
supplying evidence for the attack 70 your
attorney general. AB a citizen I DO my
duty In turning from him to you when
timo has shown his invincibie reluctanoe
TO act.
The coal trust continues 70 exist and
continues 70 plunder because tho laws are
not enforced.
For that nonenforcement OF tho laws.
Mr.. President, your attorney general IN
responsible TO you. and 81 you shall up-
hold him IN his refusal to act against the
coal trust you Will be responsible TO the
American people. Respectfully.
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST.