Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-08-02
BE PATIENT WITH THE BEEF TRUST.

Attorney GeeraI Moody has been max.
Ing speech pleading for "fair play
for the Beef Trust" He prefaced his
remarks by saying that they were made
with the approval of the President"
Fair play" the proyerb has it ..is a
jewell" In this instance it seems to
have been pearl of great price to the
public, and of greater profit to the
Trust.
The outcry against the extortions of
the Beef Trust began nearly ten years
ago. The United States Government
moves against millionaire criminals
though it swoops down q picayune of
ender like fish hawk on a fish, and so
it was until 1902 that the Attorney Gen
eral began proceedings to eDjoin the
combination of the packers. The in.
junction was issued q year later in
May, 1908. Not the slightest attention
was ever paid to it by the corporations
enjoined.
Mr.. Moody says "diligent inquiry"
was at all times deing prosecuted to
discover whether the defendants had
been observing the terms of injunction.
How "diligent" 1t was must be q mat.
ter Of opinion; but it is matter of com.
mon notoriety that the companies form
ing the Trust did not alter in the most
infiniteslmal degree the methods which
had been enjoined as unlawful.
Then what?
When some labor leader violates q
blanket injunction 1t doesn't take
the Federal authorities half day to get
him committed to Jail for contempt.
But the eminent gentlemen who com.
pose the Beef Trust could not be treat
ed thus cavalierly. Commitment for
contempt would be too summary for
them-besides, it would necessarily
mean imprisonment. So the Attorney
General proceeded to secure their in.
dictment by Federal Grand Jury
again with the approval of the Presi.
dent. This gives them the benefit of a
jury trial, at which the efforts of their
eminent lawyers - the best paid in the
country - will be pitted against those
of the government counsel.
How different this froDl the celebrity
with which the turbulent Debs and his
five associates were hustled to jail with.
out trial for violating Federal injuuc.
ton.
But more. A grand jury Investigation
IS not usually introduced with a fanfare
of trumpets. When the District At
terney of New York, for example
thinks person is likely to be wanted
by the Grand Jury, either as witness or
as accused, that Individual is likely tc
be kept under surveillance or warned
to keep in the jurisdiction. The public
has heard lately of several eminen,
gentlemen-high tinanciers and success
fullawyers-who have postponed trips te
Europe in response to such summons.
But when the Federal Grand Jury al
Chicago took up the Beef Trust cases
more than a score of managers got
safely away to Canada, while the heads
of the houses of Armour, Swift, anl
Morris found the time propitious for 9
trip to Europe.
Mr.. Moody urges that the Trust
should be held innocent until it i,
proved guilty. That is a good doctrine
but seldom preached by the prosecuting
authorities, 1t is doctrine for the judg.
and the jury. The duty of the prose
cutor is to see that the accused is hel(
for trial. that all witnesses for the
state are kept within the jurisdiction
and that the trial be speedy.
Proceedings against the Beef Trust
begun in 1902 and eliminating in 100!
with the flight of the more importan
personages accused and the most I'm
portant witnesses for the State, cal
hardly be called triumph. With al
difference to Mr.. Moody, who "hope
and believes" that these Indictment
may be brought to trial this year, it il
difficult to "hold our judgments in sus
pense"-particularly our judgment O
the dilatory ia cites of the Attorne,
Generals off1ce.-New York American