The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-11
Mr.. Roosevelt Has Referred
Matter to Attorney General.
Kansas Authorities May Also
Move on Beef Trust.
Result of Action by State Live
Stock Association.

i
It will be remembered that about
year ago Attorney General Knox
brought injunction proceedings against
the beef trust, or big packing houses,
and secured an injunction last May, en-
joining the packers from violating the
antitrust law. The price of fat cattle,
however, has continued to be forced
away down, while the price of beef to
the consumer has been kept up. It is
estimated that the packing house trust
has cost the cattlemen of Kansas alone
81, 100000 in the last year by forcing
down the price of cattle.
AT the recent meeting of the Kansas
stock breeders resolutions were passed
to call the attention of President
| Roosevelt to the continued violation of
law by the packers and ask him to
| take steps to stop it. The same thing
was done with reference to Governor
| Bailey. Secretary Heath, of the breed
| erS' association has received word from
the president that he has taken the
matter up with Attorney General Knox
and the latter has written that infor-
nation concerning the violation of the
antitrust law should be furnished to
| a Chicago attorney who has charge of
| the matter.
Governor Bailey has replied that he
| has talked the matter over several
times with Attorney General Coleman,
but yet no definite course has been
agreed upon for procedure against the
combine. The truth is that the state
authorities have been waiting to see If
the United States supreme court up
holds the Kansas antitrust law, under
which proceedings would have to be
brought.
The resolutions passed by the stock
breeders association were as follows:
Whereas. Sufficient evidence has
been presented to the stock breeders of
Kansas to convince them that there
exists at Kansas City and other points
an illegal and unlawful combination or
trust that has the power to and does
depress the price of beef on foot to the
great damage and detriment of the
breeders and feeders of Kansas and
without a corresponding benefit to the
meat consumers of the world, but to
the sole benefit of the packing trust:
therefore be it
Resolved, by the Kansas Improved
Stock Breeders association, in its
| fourteenth annual convention assem-
dent of the United States. be hereby
requested to call the attention of his
attorney general to this matter and
require him to investigate the same to
the end that the guilty parties may be
punished and the antitrust laws of
the United States be fully enforced.
Resolved, That copy of this reso-
luton be sent direct to the president of
the United States, signed by the presi-
dent and secretary of this, the greatest
| livestock breeders association in the
United States.
Whereas, 1t is apparent that the
| laws of Kansas are ample for the sup
preston of trusts and combines and the
control of all corporate interests; there
/ fore, be it
Resolved That we call upon Cover
nor w. J. Bailey to secure the enforce
ment of these state laws by all means
at his command and thus aid in foster
| ing the industries which lie at the foun-
dalton Of our prosperity and throttle the
crtcr Ion
! ing these industries with gradual ex-
tinction; and further be it
Resolved. That a copy of this reso-
| luton be signed by the president and
! secretary of the Kansas Improved Stock
Breeders association and handed to
| Governor Bailey
| Copies of the resolution were duly
| forwarded to President Roosevelt and
to Governor Bailey by H. A. Heath,
secretary of the breeders association.
The presidents reply came, of course,
from Secretary Loeb. 1t is as follows:
White House, Washington.
January 25, 1904.
my Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 21st
| instant, with enclosed copy of resolu-
lions, and to say that the president has
taken the matter up with the attorney
general. Very truly yours,
Secretary to the President"
Shortly afterward Secretary Heath
received the following from Attorney
] General Knox:
Department of Justice, Washington,
d. c., January %, 1904.
MIR. H. A. Heath, Secretary Improved
Stock Breeders Association, Topeka,
Kan.
''Sir:-The president has referred to
this department your letter of the 21st
/ instant, enclosing resolution of the
Kansas Improved Stock Breeders as
ISOLATION complaining that the anti
trust laws of the United States are be-
| ing violated by the beef packing COM
panies to the detriment of the COM
plainantS.
In reply, you are informed that N
May, 1903, the fedora government OBJ
Nav 1903 the federal government OBJ
tanned an injunction against the lead
ing beef packing companies and firms
and also against a large number of in
dividuals, restraining them from vio-
lating the provisions of the antitrust
act and so far as the department is
advised they have obeyed the injunc-
ton. If you have any evidence of new
violations of the law or of violations OF
the Injunction, forward it to S. H
Bethea, Esq, United States attorney
Chicago, ILL.,, and it will receive prompt
consideration
7 enclose q copy of the courts opin-
ion and decree in the beef trust case.
Respectfully, 2. c. KNOX,
Attorney General
Governor Baileys reply to Secretary
Heath was as follows:
Topeka. Feb. s, 1904
Mr. H. A. Heath. Secretary Improved
Stock Breeders association, Topeka
Kas-:
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of you
communication with resolutions adopt
ed by your association. have had sew
eraI talks with the attorney genera
along this line. and while no definite
course has been agreed upon. I assure
YOU that am in entire sympathy will
the PURPOSES set forth in your resoIu
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