West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-04-21
GOAL TRUST SUIT
Supreme Court
Decides For Hearst
The Trust Must Produce It's Con.
tracts and Show Its Books. Say
Eight Of the Nine Justices Of the
Court.

Court.
Washington, ID. C.-The Hearst suit
has been won and the coal trust beat
en-. by It's decision against tho trust
the United States supreme court has
decided that there is limit TO the
power OF the trusts, great and power
ful though they be. and the law OF the
land is stll mightier.
The decision OF this snme court In
the Northern merger case was con.
sidered n staggering blow TO one kind
OF trusts, but the decision OF the court.
rendered as n result OF Representative
William Randolph Hearst's suit against
the coal trust, sounded tho death knell
of every predatory trust I'm the country.
IL means that the Interstate com
merce commission can compel trust
magnates TO bring out their books for
inspection and disclose their unlawful
methods for doing business.
lt means that the millionaires OF the
criminal trusts can be compelled by
the commission 10 make confessions
which Will bring them under the opera
ton OF tho sherman antitrust nct.
IL means that the fence OF technical.
tiles behind which the trusts have been
hiding has been broken down.
IL means that Attorney General
Knox has been deprived OF the last
shred OF pretended excuse for not act.
ing upon evidence OF the coal trusts
guilt with which he was furnished by
MIR. Hearst year and half ago,
which evidence will now be furnished
to him again by Baer. Truesdnlc ana
other managers OF the coal carrying
roads when they unwilllngly remount
the witness stand and hand TO the ln-
terstate commerce commission the con
trncts which they so desperately and
unsuccessfully endeavored to shield
from view.
IL In the face OF the supreme courts
decision and this evidence President
Roosevelt shall permit his attorney
general TO abstain from doing his
sworn duty Il Will DO for one OF the
two reasons plain TO the whole coun-
try:
First, that the administration is
afraid to offend the coal trust and It's
allies In presidential year; or,
Second. that Mr.. Roosevelt cannot
bring himself to be ungrateful to the
coal trust which In 1900 yielded to the
demhnds OF the miners in order TO pre-
vent the strike from spreading 20 West
Virginia. Indiana. Illinois and Ohio
and arraying the labor vote OF the ma
ton against the Republican national
ticket.
Now that the supreme court has sus-
tained the rights of the interstate com.
merce commission TO prosecute the in
vestigation begun on the petition OF
Representative Hearst nothing can
save the coal trust from swift destruc-
ton except the defiant refusal OF the
attorney general OF the United States
TO apply tho laws OF the United States
10 proved extortionists and criminals.
The decision OF the supreme court
almost took away the breath OF all
Washington. Representative william
X. Hearsts victory over the coal trust
was the only topic of discussion.
Members Of both branches OF congress
left their seats TO attend the supreme
court and listen 20 the reading Of the
decision by Justice Day. Senators,
representatives. and distinguished ju-
.rists fingered I'm the corridors after the
last words Of the decision bad been ut
tered TO comment upon the successful
termination OF case brought I'm be-
half OF the most powerful trusts in
the country
It was conceded that the New York
representative and editor had accom-
pllshed more 70 enforce the antitrust
and interstate commerce laws than
the entire stan OF the department.
With but one dissenting opinion
Mr. Justice Brewer-the supreme court
reversed the United States circuit
court for the southern district OF New
York and ruled that the coal oper-
ators mugt bring their contracts with
the railroads before tbe interstate com
merce commission VIXEN ordered to do
50. Rccalcitrant witnesses, members
OF the coal trust, who dehed the au.
thority OF the commission and refused
20 testify, can also be compelled By
this decision 20 go upon tho witness
stand and answer questions.
President Baer and his trust nssoci.
ates have been brought within the op-
Grafton Of the federal laws which they
repeatedly and insolcntly dcdcd By the
unrelenuDg persistence Of W. x.
Hearst, who Instituted proceedings un-
der the Interstate commerce laws IN
behalf Of the people who were com.
PEELED to pay unjust exactions I'm pur-
chasing fuel
Following the big coal strike OF 1902
W. X. Hearst brought the now famous
coal trust case before the interstate
commerce commission on complaint
alleging that the coal companies and
their allied railroads were unlustly
discriminating against consumers. Dur.
ing the hearings trust witnesses re-
fused TO produce their contracts and
also declined TO answer questions By
Clarence y Shcaru. attorney for Tie
complainant w. n. Hearst.
Hiding behind the great power Of
meir wealth and depending upon on
cial frlcndlincss. the magnates and
Manager Waufed