The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-05-16
DIVERGENT VIEWS.

fencing Of the Savannah naval stores
men in the United States court has
been the subject OF broad editorial
treatment on the part OF the press Of
the states Of Florida and Georgia for
the past few days and very generally
the opinions OF the papers in both
states are as far apart as the poles.
Brunswick, being q naval stores port,
is. Of course. interested in the mat
ter.
As an illustration OF how sentiment
on the subject is viewed from diff
ferent port cities, we are producing
two editorials this morning. one from
the Savannah News and the other
from the Tampa Times. The News
expresses itself as follows:
"The verdict against a number Of
the defendants in the naval stores
case was a surprise botn to those who
heard the evidence and those who
read It in the newspapers. There was
evidence Of irregularities in naval
stores yard at Brooklyn, N. Y, and,
If we are not mistaken, at Jackson
vile, which wasn't satisfactorily re-
futed, but the case turned on the ques-
ton Of conspiracy. If there was no
conspiracy TO restrain trade it was
admitted that there could be no CON
viction under the Indictment. and the
impression was that conspiracy had
not been shown. The conclusion,
therefore, was that the jury inferred
tile existence of irregularities at
Brooklyn and Jacksonville, and evil
dence IN support of other charges
Whether or not it was justified in do
ing so. assuming that It did, viii be
determined by the circuit court Of
appeals IN fact, the case may go
even to the supreme court. There
Is a great deal Of uncertainty in the
criminal section Of the Sherman anti
trust law, attention to which was call
ed by the attorneys for the defense
before the trial OF tae case began.
Therefore, what TIE final outcome Of
the case win be is still matter OF
doubt. A feature of the case is the
impression in business circles that the
misfortune Of the defendants is due
to fierce business competition
In naval stores circles the interest
in the case is very general. The
Times Union Of Jacksonville seems to
think that it will contribute to the
passage Of the TaIiafcrro naval stores
inspection bill. Tie objections which
the trade in Savannah offered 10 that
bin are not removed by anything
brought ont in the case that has just
been tried here If the bill comes
up again they will undoubtedly be
urged just as forcibly, and, we have
no doubt just as successfully. as they
were when the bill was before The sen
ate and house committees some
months ago. In the meantime, Savan-
nah will continue to be the greatest
naval stores market in the world
Naval stores will continue to come
here for the reason that was so clearly
presented in the trial that has just
ended
Our Tampa contemporary holds a
different view, believes that the result
Of the cases is an argument for the
passage Of the Taliaferro bill which
provides for government inspection
and says:
Whatever may be said in discus
sion of the prosecution and conviction
of the naval stores magnets of Geor-
gia, however men may account for the
result, however the defendants may
delay the execution of the sentence,
whatever else may happen, the incl
dent is an invincible argument for
the immediate passage of the Italia
ferro naval stores inspection bill
While it is not directly pertinent to
the discussion OF the matter at its
present stage, it is admissible for The
Times to state why 1t so unreservedly
advocated the bill after its introduc-
ton. 1t had been personally assured
| by a reliable man in whom it reposed
entire confidence that he had person
ally inspected the spirits exposed and
offered for sale on the island of Cuba
and found them adulterated with kei