The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-03-22
Charges Violation of Sherman
Antitrust Laws
THE PRESENTATION TO-DAY
President Gcmpers Declares He viii At
tempt to Administer Same Medicine
to Trust That Labor Leaders
Got.

Washington u - MNEeh lE.-r inarH-
ing that the United states steel corpora.
ton is violation Of the Sherman anti.
trust laws, President Gompers Of the
American Federation Of Labor to-day
presented 70 the state department an
indictment against the combination eSv-
ering forty-eight pages. Gompers de-
clared that be would attempt 70 give
the steel trust the same medicine that
labor received when its leaders were con
victed.
In attacking the charter Of the trust,
Gompers sayss-
"We assume that the honorable attor.
ney general win not regard New Jer-
sey state charter as any authority what.
ever for contravening federal statutes
Attempting to leealize By state law and
state charter what is criminal and lie.
gal was clearly exposed and received
judicial disapprobation IN the Northern
Securities companys case.
However, we call your attention to the
fact that this charter alleges that Tie
corporation has the power to manufac.
ture iron, steel, manganese coke. copper,
lumber and other materials, and al or
any articles consisting or partly consist
ing Of iron, steel, copper, wood OF other
materials, and all or any products there.
Of; 10 acquire or lease lands containing
these materials; to mine, extract or re.
move coal, ores, stone. other minerals
and timber from any lands occupied OF
owned BY the company, or any other
lands; and to buy and sell articles con
sisting, or partly consisting, Of these
materials. Soc article 8 81 the eharter.l
The United States Steel corporation Il |
thus chartered and organized for tie
purpose Of mining. manufacturing. buy. l
ing and selling whatever relates to the I
iron and steel industry, and whatever
relates to copper, wood coal. ore, stone 4
or other mineral. In 4 word IL com.
pfelicnds enough "a its character f0 ab
s0fb the industrial activities II The 4
United States.
The companies out Of which the cor
p0ration was formed were the main pro-
ducers, IN some instances the sole produc-
ers, Of many Of the grades and classes
Of the commodities provided for in this
CHARTER, with the exception, perhaps. that
the steel corporation assumed the right 4
% produce the raw and crude as well 4
81 the finished material The Tin Plate
for example, endeayored to se-
cure, prior to entering the steel trust
d monopoly of the tin plate manufacture
by absorbing Its competitors, and 80
with the Steel and Wire company Of
wire goods.
In word, the sources Of information
We have given you We think. Justify the +
on The part Of your complain
ants that the United states Steel cor
Doration IS the highest development and
The final product Of q giant trust. absorb
ng many minor trusts.
In their fourth annual report. promul-
ynted BY the steel trust the officials
WOW that their intention is mon0polstie.
the fact is mentioned that
his combination was formed to avert
/ threatened competition which would I
rave lessened profits ii the prosperous
,eriod which was then opening upon The
ron trade, and would have proved de
tructive to several of the companies abb
orbed II they had been left to competi
ion. The admission thus Is made that
he aim was to control this industry and /
irevent competition for the purpose OF
gWandizing the profits Of the stock
olders and bondhoders of this new en-