The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-20
CHARGES AGAINST
SANTA FE.

beside which the brush with the beef
trust becomes insignificant It is realiz-
ed in Washington that this IS the nrSt
real test OF the power of a "trust-bust-
ing" president matched against So
called octopus" of the business world
The Standard has been the one trust
pre- eminently against which attack up
on attack has been aimed ever since its
guiding masters of finance built up Its
dominant position. Indignant citizens
of various states at various times IN
the last 20 years have compelled legis-
latures to undertake to expose it and
limit It's monopoly.
Congress has followed suit. Endless
testifying endless resolving and re-
peated Investigations are in the records
Of national and state legislation.
Few have been the results attained
These movements heretofore have orig
mated in the east, and when carried 10
congress their backing has been east
ern backing. Now 1T is a western state,
Kansas. which takes up the gauntlet
and is passing bill upon bill, all calcu
lated to restrict the Standard and fur
nish competition.
1t is a western congressman who in
troduced the resolution calling for a
national investigation, though national
as we'll as western, popular sentiment
is behind him and the inquiry which
he fathers.
circumstances now are different, in
that an executive is in the White House
whose popularity largely rests upon his
'trust-busting" proclivities. The presi-
dent, also, has a special machinery
available with which to prosecute such
inquiries. It is the bureau of corpora |
tons.
They Should Know
This bureau is fresh from its expert |
ence with the beef trust, and at least !
how to proceed. The means, the men /
and the disposition seem to be at hand, /
and the time seems appropriate for gov |
action against the great mon |
opoly, which promises to be historic in
Agents who worked upon the beef
trust case have been dispatched to the |
Kansas field, and will begin investiga
procedure and the facts obtained are to
be kept secret for the time being.
1t is expected that the force of in
spectors VIII be kept constantly work.
ing until June or July. BY that time.
it is thought that the true situation in
all the centers of the oil industry can
have been learned.
Then the data obtained will be
sifted and a report rendered direct to
the president, who will make public
as much or as little as in his discre-
ton he may think best
The Campbell resolution specifically
declares that information which may
be secured shall be available for legal
By its terms the COM
missioner of corporations Is directed
to make early report of its findings,
according to the law, to the end that
such information may be used by con-
yress as a basis for legislation or by
the department of justice as a basis
Tor legal proceedings.
The information gathered as to the
operations of the beef trust has not
been published and the commissioner
IF corporations regards it as unavail-
BILE to the department of justice. But
discovery of violations of the law on
the part of the Standard, under the
Campbell resolution, will permit of
criminal proceedings.
The president and Mr.. Garfield both
nave indicated that the present work
s to be the most comprehensive of its
Kind yet undertaken by the govern
nent. The president has declared
hat now is the time to ''go to the
yery bottom" of Standard Oil. 1t will
De battle royal.