Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-23
"TRUSTS ARE
TOO DARING
RLAIR's EYES ARE FASTENED ON
MILK DEALERS
Investigations Coming Thick and Fast.
Ice, Coal and Milk Combinations
to Feel Sharp End
of Probe

These trusts are too daring"
This was the expression of Deput,
District Attorney Frank Blair, the trus
buster, as he sharpened his ak and go
out his probe yesterday preparatory t.
putting the milk trust across his knee.
First it was the ice dealers, then this
coal dealers and now the milk dealers
need a little investigating" he con-
! tinued.
| From the preparation being made IN
| the district attorneys office there will
be an interesting session with the milk
dealers in the near future behind the
closed doors where the grand jury sits.
The trust buster" practically acknowl-
edged as much yesterday, but as his
plans are not thoroughly formed de-
clined to say what he would do before
he was through with the alleged COM
bination of milk dealers.
Said a member of the district attor-
ney's office yesterday:
Epidemic of Trusts
1.-THE epidemic of trusts which has
been raging in Los Angeles for several
weeks has assumed serious proportions.
"There seems to be an uncomfortable
desire among the heads of the corpora
climax in the trust situation. First 1t
was the ice then the coal and now
1t is the milk trust This is the latest.
$50 far 1t has been only the Angeleno
adult who has had to worry over the
trust evil, but the new trust will affect
even the household cat.
who is responsible? That is what
prominent consumers of the lacteal huld
are asking That, also, is what the dis
trict attorneys office is endeavoring to
unearth.
"There is that same spirit of pointing the
finger at one another that characterizes
the unwilling ice and coal informant. In
milk circles managers are blaming eacn
other for the intended schedule of high
price and denouncing the spirit of profit
greed in no uncertain terms. Their ex-
cuse however, is We must follow the
others or we'll be left :"
District Attorney Stirred
When. the district attorney was in
formed of the increase in price of milk
which was to become effective the first
of the coming month there was an un-
usual stir
The county authorities are swamped
with Investigations at present. The Ice
trust is in the police courts and the coal
trust investigation to be referred later
to the grand jury is being prepared under
the supervision of the district attorney,
SO that there is barely breathing time
between the daily run of legal business
and trust probing.
"Of all things. said an attache of the
office yesterday when informed of the
fact, "who would have thought OF IT.
milk trust I suppose the next thing
will be a peanut trust"
n'This is nothing funny" said deputy.
"It is about the worst thing we'll have
to tackle Think of the work coming
your way
Authoritative information was given
out yesterday that If 1t could be deter
mined definitely that milk trust was be-
ing formed and if discriminating evidence
was obtainable it would be crushed In
the start
There is no use trifiing with this az
fair Start prosecution on the testimony
of the officials themselves before the
raise is called on the first. That is about
the best way to silence these trouble
breeders" said a deputy district attor-
ney late yesterday.
Deputy Blair said Evidently these
men do not realize the full Importance of
what violation of the Cartwright anti
trust law means. They are daring too
much altogether. 1t is necessary to
make an example of the ice trust Off
cials and give them the full measure OF
the law Perhaps then lesson will be
taught"
Greater light will be thrown on the
whole matter this morning, as 1t is ex-
pected that Capt Fredericks' investiga-
tion will reach such a stage where Inn
mediate action will be necessary on the
mart of the authorities.