The Taney County republican., 1908-09-24

secure The evidence developed In this
suit has since been used as the basis or
suits against the Standard OIL Trust by
Eve States. and by the National Govern
ment, and the arrogant and insolent 9is,
regard OF the laws " the Nation ana OF
the States and the rights Of competitors
and the public which once characterized
the actions OF this corporation have now
become largely matters Of ancient history
BY this result there has also come to the
American people q realization OF the fact
that no combination Of money and oi
uover is above the law and that none
win he permitted to violate the law win
impunity II Is n narrow partisan Indeed
who will refuse to be satisfied with re-
suits such as these.
INSURANCE TRUST.
want TO tell you the result OF the pro-
ceedngs that conducted against another
combination Of corporate interests doing
business IN this state. In 1893 my prede-
cesSor. Mr.. Il. G. Crow. began suit
against a number cf insurance companies
on the charge that they were violating the
antitrust laws OF this State The Su-
preme Court sustained his action and as
sessed fine Of $1,000 against each OF the
corporations charged But dhrlng ue
last two years. by reason Of complaints as
TO the rates Of Insurance. began an in.
vestiCaiiOn from which | became satished
that the former suit conducted by Mr..
Crow had not resulted In correction OF
the abuses incident to the fire insurance
business here; that fire insurance rates
had not been reduced and were arbitrarily
fixed and maintained with but slight. "
any. reference to the hazard 81 the risk.
And so | began proceedings against some
% Of these companies. charging them WIN
the violation OF our antitrust laws. Bul
before the testimony was completed the
representatives OF the insurance cOmpa-
niles opened negotiations looking to an
adjustment Of this litigation and offered to
reform their business so as to comply with
the laws u the State and to treat the
peopIe fairly In the matter u rates II the
prosecution against them was not con-
tinued | Informed them that II they
would re-rate all Of the property OF the
state on scientific basis, giving TO each
b,ildirg the benefit Of any protection from
fire that Il might enjoy ! would hold IN
allowance the suit that | had begun This
pronosltion was accepted and the work OF
adjustment of insurance rates In this
State ls now In progress, and VIII prob
ably be completed within the course OF
the next sixty days. In the City and
County Of St. Louis. I am informed that
there has heen, since the beginning Of this
suit. reduction in rates on business
property OF from 30 to 40 per cent, ana
/ from the reports received Of the new rates
established in some fifteen or twent!
towns IN different narts Of the state, II
can be confidently stated that the average
reduction In insurance rates thus secured
will be between 10 and Is per cent. As
the annual amount paid In premiums by
the people OF Missouri to fire Insurance
companies, other than mutuals, ls approx l.
mately $4,000 900 a year, this reduction
viii amount to Il saving to the people d.
rect of, at least SS0000O year for an
indefinite period. Where is the man not
blinded by partisan prejudice VINO wonlo
hesitate to admit that this Is better plar
Of procedure than to secure the imposi.
tIon Of a fine which the defendants could
In = few months recoup by an advance ir
charges.
OTHER ANTITRUST PROSECUTIONS
In addition to these suits brought undei
the provisions OF the antitrust laws OF tn
State I have also conducted a suit agars
the Traders Live Stock Exchange Of Kan
sas City. which was sustained by the Su
preme Court OF the state; a suit agains
the Lumber Trust in which I secured al
Injunction against the further consollda
ton OF that combination; suit agains
the Harvester Trust, In which the testi
mony will soon be completed and sub
/
last case II Is worthy OF note that the de
fendqnt offered to pay nne In order I
escape the nOtOriety and trouble OF litlga
, tion, | Informed the attorneys who sub
: mitted this proposition that the qnestio
OF punishment was question Tor III
. courts. and not for the Attorney Genera
. TO determine; that no company could pa
. fine to escape the trouble Of lltigatlo
and continue what believed TO be prac
2 tIces In violation of the laws OF the State
that II II was not guilty OF violating ou
! laws. II should pay nothing. and !! II wa
: guilty, Il should make way for others VII
would comply with our laws. And Il
! also worthy Of note that during the tnkIn
= NJ testimony In this case Cyrus II. McCni
= mick, the president of this Sl2O0NO.0 or
!, CORPORATION, relative by marriage OF JOh
y D. Rockefeller came TO Jefferson City q
my request and freely answered all cues
tions that I asked him as TO the plan {
. orga anization and the business methods I
= the international Harvester COmpan
> This same officer recently refused to pa
y any attention to similar processes Issue
: against him by the Attorney General
u our neighhoring State OF Kansas. II tht
!. appears that the orders and the decree
y VI the courts Of the State Of Missouri al
J. now respected by the trust magnates
n the country. This is some advancement
a at least from the time when II II. Roge
a md his associates were with arrogant II
!. solence declining to answer the simple
;, questions on "advice OF counsel"
le WHAT ! HAVE ENDEAvoREo TO AZ
u CoMPLlSH.
IN In these antitrust suits that which
!, have endeavored TO accomplish Is to r
70 lieve the people Of the oppression and evi
v " monopoly by giving them the beneht
N free competition. My efforts have been
10 accomplish q correction Of existing ev
le and sbuse. rather th1n IN inhict punis
n ment for past offPnses and leave unco
IL rected the evils nnd abuses which cOnst
In tute those offenses. In this work do n
m claim TO have been entirely successful
e. do claim. however to have accomplish
4. something And today the people Of Nj
nj snuri have fairer conditions NJ trade 4
III freer competition In practically every II
>. pnrtant article nf commerce than IN
~ had when I was elected IN ONCE. II
was the notoriety seeker which some
p. nv Democratic opponents assert. "
I'd cared nothing except for HIS own glnrihc
hr tinn and advancement. ! could easily hn
e settled the Standard on litigation thf
= wears ago for an amount far In excess
by N the fines imposed against cnrpnratln
I'll fnr the violation NJ our laws during {
htaforv nF The IN rr