The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-02-12
in CONGRESS-
hard Fight Against All Antitrust
Legislation.

|
lhe present session. President Roose.
Fe''' on the 9th of March, will call an
extraordinary session of the FIFTY
eighth Congress. The President him
sciI has already informed members of
Congress OF his desire and of his de-
termination in this regard. 1t is under.
stood That the announcement was
direct and unqualified 1t is further
stated that the determination OF the
President was reached only after
careful study Of the strenuous efforts
that are being made to defeat any
ANTITRUST legislation by Congress
| l'hCSe eHortS nave covered n wide
range. They were characterized Sat.
nrday by one prominent Republican
leader to quote him directly, las the
most remarkable Of which have had
personal knowledge during my public
hf". These efforts eliminated dur
ing the past SO hours, it is now de-
rlarrd, in direct appeals from the
Standard Oil Company. through it's
president. Mr.. John ID. Rockefeller, to
the members Of the Senate not TO on.
act any antitrust Legislation at this
time No less thanG United States Sen.
atorS have received kilograms signed
John ID. Rockefeller" urging that no
antitrust legislation be enacted. 1t
has not been possible to obtain a copy
or these dispatches. which it can be
said. are practically identical. Sub
stantially th"t read as follows
We arc opposed to any antitrust
legislation. Our counsel Mr.. -, will
see you. 1t must be stopped"
AS stated, these kilograms. and il
must be clear that only the substance
and not the exact wording is here
given. were signed, John ID. RockrfCl.
Ter.
! Yesterday morning one Of the rOun-
sci Of the Standard Oil Company ar
rived in Washington, and called i'm
mcdiatcly upon members Of the Sen
ate as indicated in the kilograms. He
did not remain long. Scarcely had he
made known his business than he was
informed. hit curtly, that his pres
rncc here was undesirable and he left
with an intimation that he would bet
tor return to New York.
During the afternoon. information
concerning the receipt OF the mos
Sa:ScS leaked out and became the sub.
icct Of some quiet cloak room dis
cuSSion at the Senate. The news also
reached tho House, some OF tho prOmi-
rcnt Representatives learning the giSt
OF the dispatches. Then it became
/ known that this was not the first time
the Standard Oil Company, through it's
attorneys, had endravorcd to in
incnce Legislation in Congress at this
session. The attorneys for the com
pany. it was stated had opposed
| vigorously the enactment Of the meas
urc submitted by Attorney General
! Knox to the subcommittee of the
House judiciary committee. Subsc.
Quently. when what is known as the
Littl"feld bill was reported to the
House. 1t can be said on the best Of
authority. that the Standard Oil Com
pany's counsel began to devote their
opposition particularly to the Nelson
amendment to section 6 Of the Depart
ment Of CommcrcC bill---thc amend
ment which contains practically the
publicity features Of the Knox anti
trust bill. They did not want that in
cOrporatod in the measure, and. it is
said, used their utmost efforts to pre-
vent its favorable consideration. They
| were unsuccessful, rs the bill. with
| that amendment. was agreed upon un-
animously Saturday by tho corfcrccs
|
action OF the cOnfrrccS was received,
it is understood. with satisfaction by
nc officials Of the administration and
| it is regarded as q long and essential
step toward the kind OF antitrust leg
, iSlati0n that hOth the antitrust and
| Knox bill advocate. the legislation.
particularly that the Standard Oil
Company so vigorously objects 10 and
! which it is hoped might be headed off,
or cmaSculatcd, through the appeals
made to Senators before it reached the
stage OF actual passage.
II is said by authority that the adj
ministration hopes the IIlkins rebate
bill. which was passed by the Senate
| this week. will be passed also by the
| House while this measure, too. is OPP
! posed by those who are in favor OF no
trust Legislation. the special opposition
| to it does not come from the Standard
| Oil Company. because it is explained,
| that corporation has grown beyond any
effects the enforcement OF such lcgiS-
]atiOn might have upon it. The Prcsi-
dent. it is understood. regards the lGl-
kinS Bill as essential to a rounding out
Of tho administration plan for anti
trust Legislation, and it Is believed by
those in close touch with him and with
the conditions in Congress that 1T
may be enacted into law.
Saturday tho efforts being made to
defeat. or emaSculatc pending anti
trust Legislation formed the basis Of
some animated conferences. indeed,
the subject is likely to be developed in
some detail in Congress. One Of the
recipients of the agreement signed by
"J0hn ID. Rockefcllcr," said: "No such
formidable weapon ever has been put
in the hands OF one man by another
in a legislative contest as was put in
my hands by the sender Of that tele-
gram. II necessary I will rise in my
place in the Senate and road 1t. Then
we will ecc whether any votes are to
be recorded against the legislation
against which these efforts are being
directed"