Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-05-05
If Not Why Not?

Replying to resolutions passed
by the national house OF
asking the depart
ment of justice whether any Grim
inal prosecutions have been inst'-
tuted against any person or persons
in the decision Of the su-
preme court in the Northern Sc
curities case as guilty of violating
the laws OF the land by entering
into combinations for the restraint
of trade, Attorney General Knox
writes: II have the honor to say
that no criminal prosecutions have
been instituted against the persons
referred to in this resolution, and
that further than this I do not
deem it compatible with the public
interests to comply withsthe reso-
luton"
Replying further to a similar
resolution enquiring if any Grim
inal actions had been instituted
against the coal barons in what is
known as the Hearst suit, the at
torney general made a similar re-
ply: "That no such suit had been
instituted on behalf of the govern
ment, and that further than this
I do not deem it compatible with
the public interests to comply with
the resolution"
The attorney general is at the
head of the department of justice
Of the United States, appointed by
the president, for the purpose Of
enforcing the administration OF
the United States laws against any
and all offenders thereof. The
Constitution of the United States,
in prescribing the duties of the
president, says: "He shall take
care that the laws be faithfully
executed"
1t is quite apparent that Presi'
dent Roosevelt and his admins
tration, together with the entire
republican party, are absolutely
under the control of plutocratit
interests OF the country, who are
daily and hourly violating the laws
OF the country without let or hin
drance from the party in power
The Supreme court has decided
that the Northern Securities mer
ger is in re straint Of trade and
violation OF the Sherman anti
trust act. The first section OF thi
act provides for a criminal prose
cution and a penalty Of imprison
ment against its violators. SINH
larly, in the suit brought agains
the coal trust by Mr.. Hearst, tn
supreme court by vote of eight
one, decided that the coal carryin
railroads had violated the Sherma
act.
But it seems that in spite of 81
preme court decisions, in spite
resolutions passed by the nation
house of representatives, in spi
of the plain provisions of the lay
in spite Of his oath to ''see that Il
laws be faithfully executed
Pre- sident Roosevelt declines to i
struct the department of justice
proceed against the law breaker
More than that: When the 6
preme court gave its decisi
against the coal roads in
II earst suit, the attorney gene
]. publicly declared that sit is
the purpose of the administrati
to run amuck by instituting cril
nal prosecutions against trusts
And there you are! Such is
administrator Of justice under
administration Of strenu'
Trust Buster" who once
clared that "cunning must
shackled as we have shack
force" There has been mi
hostile comment upon the mat
in which the late lamented
Kinley changed front upon
terial issues, but Mckinley ne
posed as teacher of morality
Roosevelt does, and Mckin
with all his faults and sud
changes, never attempted to
lead the American people by t
ing one way and acting another
his successor does. Is it any v
der that the rank and file Of
republican party are getting t
of these protestations of Roose
A. g. ...I