Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-25
PROSECUTING TRUSTS.
No Results to Consumers From
Steps So Far Taken.
COMBINES USEFUL II CAMPAIGNS

Evidence Against Them Might De
Held rs q CIub-This Method Has
Been Successful on Previous Occa-
siOns.
The exposure OF the anthracite coal
trust methods through the investiga-
ton by the interstate commerce COM
mission shows exactly what is claimed
by the Democrats-that there is a con-
spiracy in constraint of trade between
the railroads and the coal companies.
This investigation has not been car
ried on by the administration, but by q
suit at law commenced by a Democrat
Of national reputation who when the
coal trust refused to exhibit its books
carried the case TO the supreme court
of the United States, which decided
against the trust.
This victory for the people shows
what President Roosevelt and Attor-
ney General Knox might have done to
curb the trusts if they had in good
faith desired to do so. Instead of pros
ecuting the trusts under the criminal
section OF the antitrust law a half
hearted equity proceeding for an in
junction against the beef trust is the
only legal step that has been taken
against the industrial trusts to punish
Or restrain them.
The beef trust barons have paid no
more attention to the injunction than
If il had never been issued and still
control not only the principal cattle
markets, but dictate the price of meat.
The lower branch of congress under
the whip and spur Of popular indigna-
ton ordered the department of com
merce and labor 10 investigate the cat
tie and beef combines. but although
weeks have passed. and no doubt Sec
rotary CorteIyou is aTdently pressing
the Investigation. ii does not appear to
have had any deterrent effect upon the
rapacity Of the combine. 1t may be
that the arGuOus labors Of Mr.. Cortcl-
YOU in aiding President Roosevelt 10
arrange the details Of the coming Re
publican campaign have prevented Ell
thcr of them from paying much atten-
ton 10 CuraiuS trust, which even the
administration admits is a bad one.
It has been suggested that tie rea-
son President Roosevelt has selected
Secretary Cortclyou to manage his
campaign was that the evidence he
has obtained against the trusts could
be used IS a club to make them come
down" to the great advantage of the
Republican campaign fund. That
would be no new plan. for it is charged
that Congressman Babcock threatened
the steel trust with ntagonistic legis-
lation unless that giant combine made
n donation to the campaign fund Of
1892. when IL was much needed.
II the coal trust. the beef trust and
the other reputed bad trusts had been
persisteutly proceeded against by the
administration and results obtained
by forcing them to sell their products
at reasonable prices the suggestion Of
their connecting with the campaign
fund in lieu of prosecution would have
10 weight. But the fact that no trust
or combine has been exposed by the
administration and that private clti-
zen has had to bear ali the expense of
forcing the evidence of the manipula-
tons of the coal trust into public view
certainly allows a sinister construction
to be put upon the lack of energy in
prosecuting the trusts by President
Roosevelt and his department of jus
tiCa.