The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-22
BLOW TO THE BEEF TRUST
Supreme Court at Washington, D. G.,
Sustains Judge Grosscup.
PROSECUTIONS MAY FOLLOW

ers-Efect Will BE to Prohibit Com
Dination TO Suppress Competition
Statement by Attorney-G snera1 Moody
Case Begun in March, 1909.
Washington. D. C.-Witilout dissent
the Supreme Court sustained the con-
tention of the Government i'll it's fight
against tine Beef Trust. affirming the
decision By United States Circuit Judge
GrOsscup, of Chicago, Ill, granting an
Injunction against Swift &c Co., and
other packers in the Beef Trust. The
opinion was written by Justice Holmes,
and the decision was expected by At
torney-General Moody. Solicitor-Gen-
etal Hoyt, and Assistant Attorneys of
the Department Of Justice who were
present.
Acknowledgement Moody when asked
to Indicate the consequences OF the
decision said that it was a matter of
such Importance and delicacy in it's
relation to administrative action that
he was peculiarly DESTROYS of not be-
ing interviewed. However, in view Of.
I the great interest throughout the oun
try in the subject, he consented to give
the following analysis Of the decision:
"First-It prohibits the continuance
of 4 combination to suppress competi-
ton in the purchase Of cattle for
slaughter. This branch Of the injunc.
ton will rebound. to the benefit Of the
cattlemen and farmers.
"Secoud-The injunction fOrbids COM
binations ito maintain uniform psfces In
selling meats. This section of the in
junction will more directly affect the
consumers.
"Third-It forbids combinations be-
tween parties to obtain discriminating
rates from the railroad companies. This
branch Of the litigation will be of ben
eft to the cattlemen and consumers
alike
Mr.. Moody refused to state whether
or not criminal prosecutions would fol-
low the decision because of the def
ance of the packers in their refusal to
obey the Injunction. 1t is stated, how
ever. on good authority, that this phase
Of the matter,has been carefully con
sidered, and that the decision has been
reached by the President and the AT
torney-General to make such criminal
prosecutions
District Attorney Bethea. of Chicago,
ILL.,, was in Washington week before
last, and had several conferences with
the Acknowledgement and the President
on this part of the case, and it is I'M
derstood that Mr.. Bethea received
definite instructions how to act if the
decision was favorable to the Govern.
ment and that a part of these instruc-
tons related distinctly to criminal
prosecutions. ;
OF very great Importance was the
declaration of the Court that govern
ment by injunction is unjust and H.
legal. No man, according to this view.
can be restrained by injunction from
violating the law. This sustains the
contention of labor organizations that
strikers caInot be restrained by iR|
junction and then punished for con-
tempt of court. 1t radically co2cc:cs
trusts and great corporations, as their
most potent weapon in recent years
has been the injunction granted
against organized labor.
A brief summary of the prosecution
of the case is here given in a chrome
logical form:
March %, 19O2-The existence Of tue
Beef Trust was SHOW i and the fight
was begun.
April Sit was shown that the trust
was able to control railroad freight
rates so a. to stife competition.
April 5-Proof was offered that Whiia
t'squeezing" Americans the trust was
selling beef cheaper in England than
at home.
April G-The secret, agreement be-
tween the trust packing houses WAS
published in full.
April 13-Attoruey General Knox be-
gan active proceedings against the
trust.
April lj-State Acknowledgement! Da.
vies began preparation Of suit to have
the trust declared illegal in New York
April 25-Attorney-Genera Knox de
cided that he had sufficient evidence to
obtain an injunction to restrain tho
trust from further proceedings under
! it's agreements.
April .2S-Announcement that tbs
| Government would proceed :gainst tho
trust in Chicago.
May 1S-Letter book of Armour &
Co. adds greatly to the strength Of the
case against the trust.
May 21-Temporary restraining orde:
issued by Judge Grosscup against tia
trust.
August 5-Demurrers to the injunc.
ton filed by the trust. a...
February 10. 19Q3-De1nurrers over.
ruled and injunction continued against
the trust by Judge Crosscup.
May 15-Trust permanently cnJoined
by Judge GrOsscup.
January Z. 1905-Case argued before
the United States Supreme Court.
Innnnru Sn-Finnl decision AGAINST