The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-21
SCHEMES OF TRUST
TO Be PROBEO
STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS
TO TAKE A HAND IN INvES-
LEGATIONS.

New York. Dec. 29.--FollowIng the
of 1900 Independent companies in the
convention of the Independent T.le
phone association at Chicago last
week. plans tn prevent the communi-
cation monopoly that is threatened by
the new billion dollar wire trust were
perfected in this city last week. De-
claring that the court record in Cleve-
land now showed that the Bell COM
binstion had already attempted TO
stifie competition by absorbing the
long distance wires that tine independ
ents had built up for their subscrib-
ers In Ohio. Indiana and Missouri.
leaders In this movement are confident
tfrat state and federal authorities will
at once take steps To halt all such
schemes Of the wire trust as being in
restraint Of trade. The claims of the
three million people who depend on in
dependent telephone service in this
country. as well as the rights of those
who have s400.000,000 of their savings
invested in their home exchanges. will
be urged upon the public prosecutors
in every locality where the telephone
trust is threatening To absorb its
rivals. it Is promised
To follow down to their sources in
Wall street the recent attempts Of the
wire trust to trade money for monop-
oily is the immediate plan Of the in
vestigators who are looking out for
the independent interests. Backed by
a billion dollars and schooled in
schemes for acquisition through finan-
cial maneuyers. IL Is believed that the
heads of the new wire merger are now
preparing to grasp by secret purchase
all Independent systems which might
interfere with their practical control
of all the telephone and telegraph
wires In the country Evidence of all
such dealing through the big financial
houses Of Wall street will be sought
for immediate presentation to the gov
eminent authorities in the localities
affected.
Vested with all the powers and au-
ihority of the supreme court Of Mis-
souri,. a commissioner has been ap-
pointed by the court at the request of
Attorney General Major to take testi-
mony in this probing of Wall streets
connection with the recent activities
next few weeks IL is predicted that
through this and other procedures.
which are now pending. the officers
and hackers OF the new wire trust
Will be subjected to as interesting
grilling as was witnessed here when
Hadley came from Missouri to begin
the fight against the oil trust.
THE many millions Of Americans
who have built up and are using the
Independent telephone exchanges to
afford some competition against the
telephone trust may be assured that
every effort will he made II protect
their interests" said +. II. Moulton.
president of the Independent Tele-
phone association. In this city today.
We believe the law of our land can
and will be invoked to guard compel
ing companies from being secretly as
simulated by monopolistic interest
with billion dollars at its hack
Through our association. which is
made up of the Independent home
companies scattered over the country.
we propose to fight this subtle ag-
gression by the wire trust. which Is
ready to offer money for the monopoly
II would gain over every telephone and
telegraph user in this country