Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-02-08
PRESIDENT
ANDPACKERS
Roosevelt Instructs the Attorney Gen.
eraI to Bring New Suits Against
Members Of Beef Trust.
The Contempt Charges Will Receive
First ttention-No Mercy to be
Shown MonopoIists.

Washington, Feb. 4.-"Put some of
the packers in Jail II there is any way
by which you can prove that they
have violated and are violating the
law" Is the order which the presi-
dent issued to Attorney General Moody
after the cabinet meeting to-day, when
they discussed the supreme courts
decision against the beef trust. Mr..
Moody was inclined to be a little more
lenient with the packers. On the
theory that SO long as the effect of
the Sherman law, as applied to them,
was in question, they technically were
not bound by it. He was disposed to
overlook their past offenses and to go
no further than to hold them to abso.
lutte compliance in future with the
law as it finally has been laid down
by the supreme court.
1t was Mr.. Moody's idea to give the
packers short but reasonable time
to reform, and then, if they fail to
obey the law in letter and spirit, to
institute criminal and civil prosecu-
tions.
But the president was not inclined
to leniency. "Show them no mercy"
was his mandate. "They have had no
mercy on the people, and are entitled
to no more consideration than any
Ouler lawDreaker. They have not
obeyed the law as it was enunciated
by Judge Grosscup."
Following the policy prescribed by
.--e president. Mr.. MOODY is vigorous
ly trying to secure evidence on which
to institute criminal proceedings
against the packers. He is being as
| sisted by Commissioner of Corpor-
ations Garfield. who has been inves-
| tigating the beef trust with a small
army of special agents for months,
and by District Attorney Bethea, of
Chicago, who received his orders from
the president and Mr.. Moody when he
| was in Washington ten days ago.
| For past Offenses the packers will
be prosecuted for contempt of court
for violating Judge Grosscup's injunc
tiOn. The punishment in such case
| will lie with the court but it is not
believed that lesser sentence than
six months Imprisonment will be i'm
posed.
For future Offenses the packers will
be proceeded against for violation OF
the Sherman antitrust law, which
provides fine of $4,000 and imprisOn
ment for two years for each offense
Mr.. Garfield's agents have accumu
lated mass of testimony regarding
the operations of the beef trust from
which the president thinks there
should not be great trouble in secur
ing enough evidence to convict some
of the packers for violating Judge
GrOsscup's order.
That these violations have been per
sistent and fragrant "aic facts known
of all men, said Mr.. Moody in his
argument to the supreme court, but
the attorney fears that it will be a
more difficult matter to establish the
facts in court. His chief hope OF
successful prosecutions is in the ex
pected revelations of some Of the con
tidential agents of the trust and ir
the possibility that one of the members
of the combine may be induced to tel
all of the facts to escape prosecution
himself. Strong efforts are beinl
made to realize both of these hopes
Meantime Mr.. Moody and Mr. Gar
field are going over the evidences
secured in the investigation of the
trust and are sorting out those fea
lures of it which may be made the
basis for criminal prosecutions. Prac
tically the whole machinery of thu
department OF justice and the bureau
OF corporations now is directed agains
the beef trust.