Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1907-05-16
HARVESTER INVESTIGATION
Senator Hansbrough's Resolution
In The j. S. Senate Starts In
quIry Into Facts.

The initiation OF proceedings
against the International Harvester
Co. by United States Attorney Cen
cal Bonapate is one of the most in
teresting and important steps taken
by the federal government on behalf
of the agricultural Interests of ..the
country, particularly the farmers
of the northwest, and came Jas re
sult..of the investigation instituted by
U. S. Senator Hansbrough, followed
by resolution:introduced by him in
the. United States..senate last winter,
says the Fargo Forum.
The senior North Dakota senator
has been in the city several days and
when approached on the subject,
readily explained the Importance Of
the move on the.part Of the Depart
ment of Justice. Mr.. Hansbro1gh,
while campaigning the state last fall,
CLEANED many facts f,om the farmers
regarding the methods Of the har-
vester trust. and when congress con-
vened introduced a resolution, ,diect-
ing a thorough investigation Of t'ie
great trust. 'It is evidenl,' said The
senator "that the inquiry thus put
on. foot, revealed Il condition of affairs
that made the beginning of suits
against the trust imperative. Alter
congress adjourned L took up the
matter with the authorities and be-.
fore L left Washington last week /
was assured that proceedings would
be begun without delay.
"FullY ten millions of farmers are
interested in the outcome. and / re-
gard this prosecution as being OF
much. greater Importance than any
other anti-trust case INSTITUTED sby
lbhe government. 1t involves legal
Inrilciple which has not,as yet bssu
dethitelytixed by the courts for The,
reason that the Interna tionaf H;lr94
! vestcr$ trust stands alone iu its pc
~euIiar relations to the public, q nc: i Is
o:::E SE%tjen and tior1si,esD rit
small resemblance 10 other monopo-
lies in restraint OF commerce.
''PriOr to the organization of lhe
| trust in 1902 "a healthy competition
| existed between the several harvester
companies. Since then competition
has ceased. the prices Of harvcsters
has been advanced from 25 to ~ rer
cent, and the trust is boldly reaching
! cut and absorbing other lines of ta-m
| machinery, such as thrcshers, plows,
| wagons, cultivatorS and the like. in-
Guiding binding twine. so per cent Of,
which is now CONTROLLED by the trust.
"The iDsiduOus feature Of this p;sr-
ticular monopoly lies in ownership
by the. trust Of all the patent rights
enjoyed by the constituent companies
prior to the trust organization.
These patent rights, constituting
complete monopoly in themselves,
cannot be used by anyone except the
trust. THUS is com petition anniDil-
ated and monopoly indefinitely per-
petuated.'
1.-The International Harvester Co..
was organized under the New Jersey
law with capital .of Si2O, ,00o 600.
This company.does the manufacture
ing Of the machinery. Then there is
the International Harvester Co. Of
America, organized under the Wis
consin law, with capital OF 81, ,COO,-
600. This company does the selling
OF the machinery. Both companies
are owned and controlled by the same
men, and the dual organization was.
manifestly intended to accomp plyh.
the evasion of the antitrust law.
''lt is understood that the t1ust
people themselves are anxious for an
adjudication of the.case so that they
may know what their status is. II
the government should lose its case
then the trust would feel at liberty
to go on and extend their monopoly
over the whole list Of ia rming imple-
ments,as originally intended. If the
trust is defeated itWill undoubtedly
be recognized in a way SO as to ad-
nit of the purchase outright:of every
line OF mandatory suitable to it's
purpose. Meanwhile ] think congress
will take a hand if necessary. II the
law is not now strong enough to
accomplish the overflow of the trust,
it will be made strong enough"
Dollar Wheat-Cash wheat in
cars, on:track at Minneapolis went to
$l.0l Monday, and al Chicago, both
Sentenlher and Decemher wheat .