The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-09
JACKSON SAYS NO
Won't Dismiss Suit Against
Harvester Trust.
Gives Delegation Some. PERTH
nent Advice.

After hearing the plea of eleven
implement men, agents of the so
called harvester trust, that the custer
suit against the International Har-
vester company be dismissed, Attor-
ney General Jackson this morning in
formed the delegation, firmly, but
kindly, that the prosecution of the
trust would have to proceed. and that
concern would be ousted from doing
business in Kansas if possible.
"If the international Harvester
company is violating the antitrust
laws" said Mr.. Jackson. sit is my
duty to prosecute. You people should
have made your talk to Senator Fred
Dumont Smith when this antitrust
law was under consideration in the
legislature. It's too late now to talk
to me-
This was very cruel remark for
Mr. Jackson to make, for Senator
Fred Dumont Smith headed the dele
CATION of implement men, and acted
as their guide, philosopher and coun-
sellor at law.
The delegation was composed of the
following dealers in farm machinery:
E. E. Frizell, Larned, L. B. Wilcox,
Great Bend; G 2dnn B; Zimmerman; paaae syfa- G,fa
J. A Evans, Cimarron; R. Hunh.
Maxville; S. L. Leonard. Garden City;
c. A Morris. Sterling; J. d. RIPLEY,
Stafford: B. T. Tatum, Kinsley.
This delegation, headed by Senator
Smith, marched to the state house at
a. M, and were given chairs in the
private office of Attorney General
Jackson. Senator Smith then took up
each delegate in turn and asked him
questions, the object being to show
that by ousting the International
Harvester company from the state,
great injury would be done to the
farmers and to the implement deal
ers. Attorney General Jackson, and
former Attorney General c. G. Cole
man were both on hand. 1t was Mr..
Coleman who started the suit against
the International. Mr.. Jackson and
Mr. Coleman cross questioned the
witnesses.
The gist of the case. as presented by
the implement men, was that the In
ternational Harvester company has
about 80 per cent of all the farm ma
chinery used in Kansas: that the In
ternational allows each implement
dealer to keep on hand a full stock of
repair parts, without any investment,
the condition being simply that the
dealer pay for what he sells. This en-
ables the farmer to obtain any repairs
very quickly while the rush of the
harvest is on. Otherwise it is claimed
that the farmers would have to send
to Kansas City for repairs. 1t was also
strongly urged that the harvester trust
has not raised the price of farm ma
chinery in Kansas. while other con-
Germs have been obliged to make an
increase
IAN these arguments would be very
proper if addressed to the legislature
said Attorney General Jackson. ''It
rested with the discretion of the legis-
lature to decide whether or not it
would make such an antitrust law as
it has made. Having made the law, it
is not within my discretion as to
whether I shall enforce 1T or not"
The implement men were not look
ing for such a determined position on
the part of the attorney general. Some
of them declared. after the confer
ence. that they would al once throw
overheard their duties as agent of the
harvester trust. BY acting as agent of
the trust, they make themselves per-
sonally liable to the same penalties as
may be imposed upon the trust. The
attorney of any county can
suit against implement
dealers handling the products of the
harvester trust. provided the courts
determine that the concern really is a
trust.