The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-05-27
Violations Of the Government
Antitrust Laws is the
Charge.
OTHERS ACCUSED
". D. C. KssSIer is the Local
Citizen Indicted.
UNITED STATES GRAND JURY SIT,
TING AT NASHVILLE RETURNS
Who'll SALE ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST SOUTHERN FERTILE
Err MANUFACTURERS AND COM.
PLANIES.

The federal grand jury sitting al
Nashville, Tenn, returned about eigh-
ty indictments against fertilizer manu-.
facturers in southern states. The in
dictme1ts have six counts and allegs
that the defendants are in combination
and violating the antitrust laws OF
the government, and the Sherman
antitrust law
Local interest has been aroused by
the action Of the United States grand
jury, inasmuch as a Pensacola man
and firm are among those against
whom indictments were returned.
William DC. Kessler, secretary and
treasurer of the GOulding Fertilizer
Company and the GOulding Fertilizer
Company Of Florida were indicted.
Accused Not Advised.
When seen yesterday Mr.. Kessler
was not fully advised concerning the
findings of the federal grand jury in
Nashville. He stated that he knew
nothing of the matter. only what he
had read in the papers, wherein he
and the GOulding Fertilizer Company
had been indicted. Mr.. Kessler said
that he had received no official nOtl.
fication of the action Of the federal
body.
Something Expected.
While the fertilizer men throughout
the south are silent to an extent con-
oefning the accusations brought
against them it was evident,that there
would be something doing when tho
grand Jury convened in Nashville.
This much was intimRted and evident
from an article published in The Jour-
nal some time in April. In the arti-
Gle mentioned, which was the first
published Of the sO-called trust and
the investigation Of the same by the
federal government, it was stated that
summons had been issued for fertihz-
er manufacturers in every southern
state, where such manufacturers had
a plant. The date on which the sum-
mons stated that they must appear was
also given, April %. The investiga-
ton commenced on the date stated.
What's On2
It cannot be stated that the fndict.
ments against the fertilizer manufac-
turers is a surprise to them, nor can
it be denied. It appears as II they
are Of the opinion that grand stand
plays are being made by President
Roosevelt and Attorney General
Moody. It appears. according to what
seems TO be the opinion OF fertilizer
men, that the department. Of justice
has jumped over all trusts in the north
to make a point against what are
termed trusts in this section. Also
that the oil trust, sugar trust, tobacco
trust, coal trust, steel trust, and other
trusts have been plying their Vocations
within an eye-shot Of the department
Of justice, but without being molested
in the least. Perhaps friendship In
the way Of campaign contributions
may have something to do with this
seemingly short-sightedness on the
part of the Roosevelt Moody alleged
trust breaking combination" think
the manufacturers of the southern
product, known as fertilizer.
No fear is expressed by the fertiliz-
er men over the outcome Of the final
hearing Of the case. They deny that
combinations have been formed 70
take from the farmer or others their
rightful earnings by trusts or other
methods contrary to the laws Of the
nation