The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-23
HURLS HEAVY SHOT
BRIEF is FILED
AGAINST GRAIN TRUST
1t Reads Like Recent Literature OF
Exposure and Gives an Excellent
Description of the Combines Modus
Operandi

ORSt ANU
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20.-The brief
against the grain trust prepared by
Attorney General Norris Brown, For
mer Chief Justice Sullivan, Deputy
Attorney General Thompson and AS
sistant Attorney General Rose reads
like some of the best literature of
exposure" 1t is an interesting and
entertaining document, as the follow
| ing extracts will show
Men Of Reputation
"The legislature of 1887 had dim
perception of the evil and proceeded
to deal with one phase of it by making
it unlawful to form or enter into COM
binations for certain purposes This
act was followed by the general act
of 1889 and the special act of 1898.
The inadequacy and practical worth
| lessness of each and all of these acts
soon became evident. The men who
organized and maintained the trusts
occupied foremost place in the So
cial and business life of every commu-
nifty. They had property, bank credit,
political influence and were by COM
mon consent rated eminently re-
spectacle.
"a suggestion that they were COM
mon criminals would have been indeli-
cate and impolitic. To prosecute
| thnr,, vxyrr,1d oooordipo r. oonopfad No
tons, have been almost profana-
ton. So they diligently pursued their
business, growing rich by crime and
enjoying the immunity which it has
been too much the custom to accord
to malefactors in the higher social
strata. When the legislature of 1897
convened it had already dawned upon
popular intelligence that criminal stat
utes as means of suppressing or re-
pressing combinations to fetter and
monopolize trade were ineffective. The
combination had grown enormously.
Their malign influence was felt every
where and by everybody, but espe-
cially by those engaged in the bust
ness of agriculture. Yet there had
not been single conviction under any
of the trust laws. In this condition
of affairs the obvious need was civil
remedies that might possibly be en-
forced, not to displace the penal laws,
but to reinforce them.
"The Octopus"
sThe grain growers were most in
f1uential in the legislature and had
| Of
, trust had taken to itself by an arbit
rary act of its own lawless will such
portion of the proceeds of the crops
, raised upon Nebraska farms as seemed
,, to its price committee right and prop
: err. No fear of penal laws or public
: prosecutors had cowed It's spirit OF
: checked its ravages. The only re
J straint upon its conduct had been /;
trust conscience and the COLDER
maxim of expediency To do justice
however. we must here admit that
had, everything considered. exercise,
despotic power with clemency. /
had taken much, but It might hav
taken more. Indeed II may now just
ly apply TO itself the remark of War
] rem Hastings, who said In speaking
! of his career In India: by heavens
When look back over II all | canno
: help but marvel nj my own modera
= ton
A Combination
, 1.-THE information shows that d,
!. PENDANTS formed a combination or cor
Il aplracy to control for their own prof
II tho price OF the business OF buyin
~ laua erllinr grain Tbav nxpd ~