Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-04-05
BEEF TRUST SELF CONVICTED.

In the classics we read of Nomads who go about in continual torture with their sins written on their fore
 heads in letters of fire. If the beef trust were personified just now, it seems to us that it would be in a very similar position. For what could be a more glaring acknowledgement of guilt than the recent extraordinary action adopted by the trust in order to influence the testimony of witnesses at the coming inquiry in Chicago?
 Scores of trust detectives have dis. tributed themselves everywhere, way laid witnesses, carried on a detestable system of espionage, entertained or threatened by turns and used all the other means that could possibly sug- gest themseyles in order to render negatory the operation of our laws, and defeat the ends of justice.
 So jealous have been the efforts of these gentry that the federal authori ties have found it necessary to arrest a prominent witness, J. E. Shields, and this gentleman will probably re- main in durance vile until next July in order that he may not be tempered with by the agents of the beef trust.
 The government and people of this country have for great many years been cognnizant of the fact that sort of banditti program was being enacted by the beef potentates, but the law is proverbially dilatory and the ramifi- cation of, and power behind the beef monopoly has all along been so great, that it has been found impossible to minimize to any extent the grabbing propensities of the trust. It has op enIy laughed at the idea of restric- tion, and when, two years ago, in 1902, the federal court at Chicago en- joined the trust from doing certain acts, the injunction was openly scout ed, and no attempt has been made tn sn or since to obey it. It is strange commentary on the admins tration of our laws that an injunction, binding at all times should be power less when directed against those who compose the beef monopoly.
 In face of this past lesson it is al most too much to hope for any perma- nent or comprehensive relief from the operations of the trust. There are too many loopholes open to the trust, for if one is closed, it may easily es- cape through another and so we think it is almost impossible that ameliora- tion of the trust evil can come from direct government intervention.
 Bat relief will surely come in an other way and that way is by the na- tional or municipal ownerships of public utilities. The trusts by their consummate greed are quickly forcing the issue and the next few years will probably see throughout the states a practical demonstration of the theories propounded by Mills, Golden, Lamar tine and Huxley. The memorable law of cause and effect, demand and sup ply, money value and purchasing pow CT, will automatically come into effect and so kill the trust octopus when it is dragging its worst at the vitals of long suffering public.
 President Roosevelt at the banquet of the Sons of the Revolution not long ago, declared that he "would see that every citizen of the United States whether rich or poor, had square deal, no more, no less" It is to be hoped that the president through his officials, may, in the present prosecu tion of the beef trust, succeed in giv- ing the people a square deal. But, at the same time, all things work togeth- CT for good. If the president and gov ernment do not succeed, we may all | the sooner see the dawn of that Utopi | aa era about which so many people | dream, but as to the ultimate advent | of which not few of us are a little doubtful.