The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-10
HITS The MILLERS
To Be Prosecuted for Conduct
ing a Trust.
Facts Already in Hands OF At
tOrney General.
OTHERS ARE INVOLVED
Kansas Lumbermen May Also be
Included.
Assistant Attorney General
Jacks, Is in on Charge.
REFUSES TO TALK.
He Declines to Discuss What
Has Been Done.
VIII Be Commenced Before
Judge Dana in Topeka.
VIII Be Commenced Before
Judge Dana in Topeka

Prosecutions are about to be COM
menced by the state of Kansas against
the alleged millers' trust which exists
in the state, and possibly also against
the lumber trust and other trusts
which it is claimed are doing business
here contrary to law.
Already the evidence against these
combines is in the hands of the attor-
ney general and it is likely that apph-
cation will be made to Judge Dana of
the Shawnee county district court for
subpoenas for a large number of the
millers and grain men of the state, in
order that an '1nquisition" may be
held to still further fortify the states
position. These millers and grain
men will be required to bring their
books and contracts into court, and
show exactly what relations exist be
tween the various individual concerns
which are said to be working under
secret arrangements which amount to
a complete monopoly or combine.
Thus far all the work which has
been done by the attorney generals
office has been very secret, and it is
only within the past few days that it
has become known that prosecutions
were intended. The state officials were
afraid that If their plans became
known, the various trusts would sour
y 70 EONEAs ettlQ Try 10 Stl away Will
some of the discriminating features of
the present situation.
Tt is understood that the work of
collecting the evidence and bringing
the cases IS being handled largely by
F. 5 Jackson, the assistant attorney
general who is the Republican nom
inee for the Office of attorney general.
Tt would be a strong political card for
the Republican ticket if a vigorous
prosecution Of the trusts doing bust
in the state Ch0T1ld hn 1o.T77
on the eve of the election. The action
of Attorney General Coleman in dis
missing the case against the Standard
Oil company has caused considerable
criticism. and has given the Democrats
an opening for campaign talk, espe-
cially since Attorney General HadIey
Of Missouri has won such important
victories over the Standard Oil COM
pany in his prosecutions.
Jackson Is Silent.
Attorney General Coleman is out of
town today, but when Assistant Attor-
ney General Jackson was asked for a
statement concerning the proposed
prosecutions of the grain trust he seem
ed considerably disturbed that any in
formation had leaked out concerning
the plan.
4 have nothing whatever to say
about the matter. Even If anything
was contemplated, it would be ruinous
to talk about it at the present time -
was all the statement that Mr. lack
son would make.
The prosecutions are contaminated
and will be commenced within a COM
paratively short time 1t is nossfhIa
tnat the state viii get enough infor-
nation to warrant beginning the action
without starting an inquisition, but the
lnqu1sition may follow the fling of the
case in order to put the state into nos
session of all the evidence possible
Carr Taylor attorney for the board
or railroad commissioners. was asked
whether he had anything to do with the
proposed prosecutions of the milling
trust. He said:
Il don't have anything to do with
any prosecutions. know that there
are trusts In existence in the state. and
I know that If I was attornev. genera
1 would start some prosecutions. But I
am not the attorney general and have
nothing whatever to do with that Of
fee. 1t is the business Of that once to
are ample
The state antitrust laws are very
drastic and the penalties provided are
severe 1t would be possible, under the
z law 10 rorfelt the charter of every in
E corpoIated milling concern in the state
and subject every officer or enpIov-e n
fine of $1,000 and Imprisonment in
the county Jail from one to six rl7Ort4,e
provided the existence of a milIers'
trust can be proved.
Definition Of a Trust.
The state law defines trust as fol
lows. 0
a trust is a combination of eani+a1
skill, or acts, by two or more persons
firm or corporations, or association NJ
persons, or either two or more of tj,ar.
for either or any of the following n51r-
poses: PU'
F1rst-To create OF carry out restric.
tions in trade or commerce. or ai7s IN
commerce, or to carry out restrirrions
IN the full and free pursuit Of an1- b,1s
mess authorized or permitted bv The
laws of this state
secono-To increase or reduce tn
price of merchandise, produce or corn-
modities. or to control the cost of rstas
of insurance.
"Ihird-To prevent competition in tbs
manufacture, making. transnor+a+ir,,
sale or purchase of merchandise -
duce OF commodities. or to prevent com.
petition in the aids to commerce.
Fifth-To fix any standard or 6s,,,e
whereby its price to the public shall he
IN any manner controlled or esta blisbed
any article or commodity or merchan-
disc, produce or commerce. intended n,
sale, use or consumption in this state
Sixth-To make or enter into or eva-
cute or carry out any contract. obliga-
tion or agreement of any kind or des
cription by which they shall hind n,
have 20 bind themselves not to sell
manufacture. dispose Of or transnor1
my article or commodity below a com