The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-07
SHERMAN LAW
MUST Be OBEYED
Rogers Goes to See President
About Maintaining Big
Combines.
ROCKEFELLERs FAIL
TO GAIN IMMUNITY
Chief Executive Says Steel Trust
and Standard Oil Must
Behave.
New York Bun Special Service.

New York Bun Special Service.
washington, f Sept 4ne 5 ta5deTd 0if
company and the United states ote9l
corporation, and informed Henry, ID.
Rogers, acting for the Rockefellers,
that the law cannot be trifed with;
Mr.. Rogers recently visited President
Roosevelt to learn If action. under the
Sherman act would be continued until
was dissolved.
Mr.. Roosevelt told him that the law
would take it's course, whereupon Mr..
Rogers threatened war, but the presi-
dent bluntly told him that, war or no
war, the law must be strictly enforced.
Two personal friends of President
Roosevelt have given accounts, ,practlc-
ally identical, Of what passed between |
Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Roosevelt when |
the former preached the subject to the !
president. |
The Journey from 26 Broadway, New
York, to the national capital was at
tended with all the precautions against
publicity which generally characterize
Mr.. Rogers movements; secretary
contemplated visit, and was unaware
of his presence in the city until note
reached him from Mr.. Rogers request
ing an audience with the chief execu-
tive. Mr.. Rogers name did not ap-
pear ON Ine EeSlstel "I 1h0 ho'oA "tAA'
he stopped.
Alarmed by Merger Suit.
When the millionaire was ushere1
into Mr.. Roosevelt g presence, he SAID
that the decision of the court In the
Northern Securities case and the policy
of the administration in pressing the
matter to the last extent. had aroused
grave apprehension in. the minds OF
Himself and his associates, John D.
Rockefeller and William Rockefeller.
He had been informed, he said, that
Mr.. Knox was contemplating a suit 1I
United States Steel corporation, with
n, view to it's dissolution after the man
.-.assner in which the Northern Securities
had been forced to dissolve: Not only
did he and his colleagues desire to be
company from attack, but they wanted
a frank statement of the policy OF the
administration.
The president summoned Attorney
General Knox, and Mr.. Roosevelt ex
pounded his views on the trust ques
ton. Mr.. Knox interrupted occasion
ally to interpolate suggestion or elu
cidate what he deemed ambiguous.
The president told the fnancier tina
the administrator had no intention O.
binations that had been formed in re
cent years, 1t was realized, he sale
that If suits were to be immediatel
instituted against all the corporation
whose legality under the latest decisio
was open to doubt, financial PAM
might ensue. Every care, he declared
would be exercised by the adminlstr;
ton to avoid precipitating financl'
disturbance.
But if the large financial interest
relying. for immunity upon the sollc
public, refused to comply with the LAY
then the responsibility would not re
upon the president.
Law Interpreted.
The Northern Securities case hi
been pressed by the attorney ne5,I ge4tesr o
was malice toward particular interes
and desire to discriminate, nor to ga
public approval as a trust-smasher: .
In order that the law might be int
preted by the highest court.
The law being no longer matter
doubt, the president told Mr.. Rog
'' that the attorneys for the United Sta
Steel corporation probably KIN
whether or not the concern was G.
trary to the statute. If the corporal
was organized in violation of the st
ute now interpreted by the supre
court, the president said he would
pect the directors to take steps as 81
as possible either to dissolve the con
1ty with the law.
- The president expressed the hope
this would be done voluntarily: and
assured Mr.. Rogers that no suit VIC
be brought to compel such action unit
| ., reasonable time had elapsed or unit
became apparent that there was an
| tention to defy the law; :.
! After this reasonable time
elapsed, the president DECLARED, e1
corporation which had failed to ad
itself to the law would be prosecu
and if 1t caused Wall Street fur,
would be because he was obeying
oath Of office, and he could not be
cused of having disregarded the IL
ests Of investors.
.... Rogers Failed to Convince.
/ When the president had ccnclu
Mr.. Rogers attempted to convince
that he was wrong. 1t was 1mPrac
BILE, he said, for the United States
company, as well as for several
consultations, to undo what they
done. The economies Of consolid.
r had been capitalized and much of
stock had passed out Of the hands Q
erganiz7e?rs For the president Isl setu Is
hoped the president would recon
his determination, especially if h
pccted to succeed himself as .presl
(. Mr.. Roosevelt replied that he NJ
discretion in the matter, as his GA
Il office imposed upon him the duty
IA WThen there will be war, Mr..
ers is said to have exclaimed,
HWar or no war;" said the pres
nI will be no weakling, The law
be no byword with me-
The discussion ended.
Since George B., Cortelyou
charge of the campaign, MI Roe
reported to have sent word that
stantial support from STANDARD !
4 teresss might yet be received by t
publicans if any assurance could
that no action would be taken
any Standard Oil companies durI
next four years.