Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-22
Attorney General Moody
Tells of the In
VestigatiOn.
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN
Directed Not to lndict Save on
Sufficient Evidence to
Convict.

Nahant, Mass. July 22.-Attorney
General Moody. in an address before
the Lincoln club of Boston. at its mid
summer outing here. today gave a re-
sumo OF the governments proceedings
against the combination of beef pack
ers. He said in part:
Has Been Complaint.
There has been occasional COM
plant that upon subjects in which the
public naturally takes keen interest |
have. as attorney general, withheld
facts which the people have a right to
know. Much of the work of the depart
ment of Justice can only be done eff
Ciently when it is done quietly and in
secret.
Not Easy tn Draw Line.
1T is not easy TO draw a line be-
tween facts which ought to be confided
to the public and those which. for the
time being. in the interest of public
Justice. ought to be withheld from it.
can only say have tried TO draw the
line solely in the public interest. and
that / recognize fully the right of the
people ultimately and in due season to
know and judge of the conduct of their
servants.
AdminIstra Misunderstood.
There has been so much not unnat-
ural misunderstanding as 10 the atti-
tude of the administration toward the
proceedings at Chicago. which have re-
suited in indictments against the beef
packers, that with the approval of the
president have concluded that brief
review of all proceedings which have
improperly be undertaken.
This can be done without trespass-
ing upon the rights of those who are
under accusation, who must by funda-
mental principles be presumed to be
innocent of any misdoing, unless, after
hearing, they have been adjudged
guilty"
Sketches History.
Moody then briefly sketched the his
tory of the proceedings from MAY, 1902.
when Attorney General Knox filed
charges against the packers. up to
January. 1905. when the supreme court
unanimously upheld the injunction Is
sued by the lower court against the de
PENDANTS. forbidding the continuance of
the conspiracy as alleged by the gov
eminent He also related how the de-
partment of Justice had made diligent
inquiry To ascertain whether the de-
PENDANTS had been observing the in
junction. which inquiry had no impor-
tant results. Continuing. he said:
Reported at Washington.
As soon as the decision of the SUI
preme court was rendered, District At
torney Betha was ordered to report at
Washington for consideration of the
complaints which were before the de-
partment. in the newspapers of the
country and in various private com
munications received by the president
and attorney general that the iniunc-
ton had not been observed by the de-
PENDANTS.
Received Assurances.
The most abundant assurances,
however had been received from coun-
sci for the defendants that they had
strictly observed the injunction. and
the complaints themselves contained
little that was worthy Of the name of
legal evidence. Returning TO Chicago.
the district attorney five days after
the rendering of ,he decision. reported
there was not sufficient competent evi-
dence 10 sustain either the indictment
or proceeding for contempt. but that
sufficient facts had developed TO war
rant the sunmoning OF "A grand jury
for the investigation of the whole case.
and asked authority 10 summon a jury.
Authorized by President.
After thoroughly considering the
whole situation. the recommendation Of
the district attorney was approved by
the attorney general and the question
submitted to the president He author
lied and directed "A most searching in
quiry into the conduct Of the packers.
instructions of the Attorney.
Mr.. Moody then touched on the as
sembiing and investigation of the grand
jury at Chicago. and said the district
attorney was given instructions sub
stantially as follows:
THAT If the evidence raised the Is
sue Of rights for the consideration of
the grand jury. that body could not be
advised as a matter OF law that there
was no legal evidence before Il; thsi
the weight and suficiency Of evidence
was solely for the consideration Of the
Continued on PAGE Ffwel