The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-04
FEDERAL PRISONS
NOW CURB TRUSTS
Department of Justice Pleas
ed Over Convictions
Upheld.
JAIL is FOUND
BEST WEAPON
Imprisonment of Spencer F. Shot
ter and ]. F. Cooper Myers,
Rich Men, Good Example.

Department OF Justice officials are
immensely pleased over the fact that
for the first time In the history Of the
Sherman antitrust law jail sentences
have been imposed and upheld b. the
higher courts
Convictions and Jail sentences have
been obtained against two Of the Of
tenders In what Is commonly called
the case against the TurDentiue trust.
officially known as the case Of the
United States VS.. the american Naval
stores Company, National Tralsporta-
ton and Terminal Company. Spencer r
Shelter, f. s Nash, ). r. Cooper Myers.
G NJ Boa-dman, Q. De Loach. and
Carl MoIler.
The Circuit Court Of Appeals has
upheld The jaiI sentences The only
way ia which the defendants could be
prevented from serving thei- terms IN
jail would be through the granting o.
writ Of certiorarI by the Supreme
Court OF the United States II is o.
uonaI with the Supreme Court whether
II grants this writ and it is not com
monty granted
Shooter and Myers are the defend-
ants given Jail sentences. Shorter Is
chairman Of the the board Of directors
Of the American Naval Stores Com
pany. He is given three months in
Jail and a fine OF S5,O5l Myers is vice
president Of the same company. He Is
given three months in jail and fined
$500 The other defendants with the
exception Of De Loach were fined
Both Are Wealthy.
The fact that Shotter and Myers are
sentenced 70 serve jail terms is the
more interesting because they are
wealthy The TUrpentine trust has
four1shed IN New Orleans atlanta and
other big trading centers Of the South.
The officers and directors Of il are
wealthy and fashionable, have fash
ionable homes down on therE gulf. ana
are able TO afford yachts and Ike ir-
duge0Ces- But this has NOT prevented
the strong arm Of the law from get
ting after them
One Of the remarkable facts about
the action Of courts in this matter Is
that scarcely any attention through the
newspapers has been given 10 the de-
cision Of the Circuit court of Appeals
sLILiIIllIS the lower court and thus up
holding the Jail sentences N the two
instances named.
FOR nearly -NeEty years the Sherman
laW mas been On the statute books and
now being sent 10 Jail under IL has
passed with almost no attention
Not merely IS the case important in
Itself but Il shows the trend OF things
with respect to enforcement Of the
sherman law Some days ago Attorney
General Wickersham Issued a state
menI SHARPLY CritiCiSinE the court AT
HlItspurg that let on with fines the
offenders in the hand-bIovxn window
glass trust case and failed 70 give them
jail sentences.
Prisons the Cure.
It was indicated then that the de-
partment IS pressing FOR Jail sentences
in antitrust cases. II believes that
the way 10 get the Sherman law en-
forced Is not through fines but through
the prison sentence. This Is uot, OF
course, true as TO all violations Of the
Sherman law, but It IS true as to the
fragrant cases
And the outcome Of this fight AGAINST
the Turpentine trust is likewise OF mo-
melt In relation TO the fight against
the Beef trust Already the Govern
uent has Indictments for about z dozen
millionaire packers. Beyond any doubt
prosecute these defendants reIentIeSSIy
and secure jail sentences II possible.
one OF the chief difficulties the depart
ment has TO contend against Is the
1ndisposition Of the courts 10 impose
jan sentences for Offenses against the
Sherman law
The Department Of Justice regarded
the Turpentne trust as q particularly
gated as far back as 1907. in the ROOSe-
welt Administration, and Indictments
grew out Of IL Part Of the corporations
and individuals indicted pleaded guilty
but continued to violate the law by
trying 70 Suppress competition and
lowed Out Of these grow the present
convictions