The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-08-25
Protecting the Trusts.

Inc packers strlke duu Tue niKn
price of beef should stir up the adj
ministratiOn to some scmblance OF ac-
uvity against the trusts. For months
the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor has had large force of inspectors
investigating the beef trust which the
Department of Justice about two years
ago discovered was a bad trust, in fact
the only bad industrial trust 1t could
discover. There Is no lack Of men or
money to fight the trusts, for the large
army Of employees of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, not counting
the numerous special attorneys Of the
Department Of Justice, with its apprO-
priation of $500. 900 is available and
has been for more than two years. The
lack of results is evidence that Presi-
dent Roosevelt Is not honestly trying
to stop the depredating Of even the one
bad trust that he and Knox selected to
try their hand on. The injunction OBJ
tanned against the beef trust Is evident
ly worthless, rs far as protecting the
people from its exactions is concerned.
Since the injunction was obtained
meat has been higher than before the
legal proceedings were commenced.
The trouble with President Roose-
welt is that he is trying to run with
the hare-the people-and with the
hounds-the trusts.
Does anyone believe that IL the
President was really intent on stopping
the plundering Of the people by any Of
the great predatory trusts, that under
his orders the Attorney General could
not find way to do 1t and do it quick
ly? Only two efforts have been made
to protect the people and those In only
half-hearted way. As long as Knox
was Attorney General. nothing else
could have been expected, for his Sc
lection by the great trust magnates Of
Pennsylvania to succeed Quay in the
United States Senate : positive evil
dence that the trusts feel very kindly
to him for his forbearance and reward
ed him accordingly.
If President Roosevelt was really
intent on bringing a few sample big
trusts to book, how easy and quickly
1t could be done. Not only the beef
trust, but the coal trust, the Standard
Oil trust, the steel trust, the sugar
trust, in fact any of the big bad trusts
would soon cease their plundering as
far as combining and restraining trade
Is concerned IL the following section
of the antitrust law was enforced:
Section 2. Everyone who shall mon
opolize. or attempt to monopolize. or
combine or conspire with any other
person or persons, to monopolize any
part Of the trade or commerce among
the several States, or with foreign ma
tions, shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanOr and Oh conviction thereof
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
5000. or by Imprisonment not exceed
ing one year. or by both said punish
ments. i'm the discretion Of the court"
The whole law will be found i'm the
26th volume of the United States Stat
utes at Large. page 200, and can be
examined at any law library 1t Gre
ated seven different crimes relating to
interstate. foreign or territorial trade
or commerce. punishable by a penalty
not exceeding 5000, or one years inn
prisonment, or both, by providing that
every person who shall make a. con-
tract in restraint Of such trade, or ~
engage in a combination in form of a
trust or otherwise, or (3) in a con-
spiracy In restraint of such trade, or "a
monopolize, or (5) attempt to monopo-
lie. or g. combine, or % conspire to
monopolize such trade shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, to be punished as
stated.
There would be no delay in gather
ing evidence against at least two
trusts. The evidence against the beef
trust and the coal trust is in the
archives of the Department Of Justice
and the names of those who could be
summoned as witnesses are also
known.
The advantage of proceeding under
Section 2 of the antitrust law is that
the United States Courts are always
open to criminal prosecution, and the
trust magnates could be indicted and
tried without delay.
Trust magnates In Jail, with the
fear of further prosecution. would at
once break up their unlawful combina-
tions. There would still remain the
protection they receive under the
Dingley tariff law. which prevents
competition from outside and allows
them to plunder the consumers through
high prices. OF course no relief can
be expected from Roosevelt from that
source. He believes with the Repub-
lican majority in Congress. and as the
Republican national platform declares:
I'VE insist upon the maintenance of
the principles Of protection"
There you have it. Protect the trusts
and corporations in every way. Pro-
tect the trust magnates from the law,
especially made to punish them. Pro
lection to the few at the expense Of
the many is the Alpha and Omega of
modern Repuhlicanism.
The White House ReorRanized.
When President Roosevelt had
warmed up his predecessors seat for a
while there was kitchen cabinet coun-
ell held. and 1t was determined to re-
organize the White House. 1t was too
old-fashiOned. and did not have the ia
cilities for entertaining that modern
progress and a strenuous President re-
quired. 1t was agreed that the people
who visit Washington and are intent
on sightseeing should. when they came
to the White House, not be allowed to
enter at the main entrance, but only
through the basement As one of the
kitchen cabinet said. the basement was
good enough for the common people
any way.
Congress was ordered to make the
necessary appropriation and did ap-
propriate about half million dollars
for 1.-The Improvements A trust archi-
tect named McKim was employed un-
4 &l,~ af ha