The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-04-13

accept Mr.. Melen'S ultnmatum.
Quickly following this announce
ment came the massage of the holding
bill by the Massachusetts legislature.
Mr.. LaFohette declared, it had been
steam railroaded" through that body.
1t was passed June IS, and on the 26th
the federal merger suit was discon-
tinued.
Think of it," shouted Mr.. LaFol-
lette. '"This great case involving the
transportation of New England and
all the people Of the country engaged
in trade with New England, after II
months of preparation and successful
prosecution on the part of the gov
eminent, it reached a stage where the
defendants are compelled to take the
stand and make their showing and
then like a tnunderbolt from a clear
sky comes the order from Washing
ton, Dismiss the governments case F"
Quoting the attorney generals rea-
son for this action the fact of the
passage of the holding bill. the Wis
conS:n senator declared it to be total
~ inadequate.
1T is difficult" he said,% 'for any
man 10 furnish very good reasons for
doing a very bad thing
Mr.. LaFollette asserted that at the
benest of the New Haven company,
the Massachusetts legislature had I'M
dertaken to repeal a federal law and
license an act congress had declared
to be a crime against the people.
And" he said, the attorney gen.
eral. the highest law officer of the
federal government, sworn to pre serve
protect and defend the constitution
and enforce the laws of congress, gives
his official approval of this legisla-
tive compact between the New Haven
company and the Massachusetts legis-
lature to nullify the law of congress
and declares it expressly authorizes
what congress has expressly forbid
dem
IF the federal antitrust law can
be repealed by a state legislature-if
the department of justice at Wash
ington will hold conferences with and
lend cOuntenance to, the agents of
law breaking corporations, while they
are engaged in lobbying through state
legislatures a pretended sanction of
their violation of the criminal statutes
of the federal government and then
by official edict make such state stat
utes a shield and cover under which
the criminal corporations may go un-
whipped of justice-if tie door Ct the
FEDERAL court may thus Re closed in
the face Ct = wrong d and outraged
public by the attorney general of the
United States then the law becomes
a black art and justice mere Jug
glers pawn.
Instead of Diminishing the govern
ment suit for the insufficient reasons
assigned. the law officers of the fed
eral government under the new adj
ministration. if prompted by high
purpose to serve the public, would
have sought every legitimate means
to strengthen and make invincible the
governments case for the final trial"
Declaring the New Haven road had
already begun to increase rates, Mr..
LaFollette drew the conclusion that
this proceeding was but the begin
ming.
"Creature of National Favor"
when the complications prevent
ing an increase of through rates at the
present time are disposed Of" he said.
when this bill becomes a law. if it
ever does, then we shall get an ex-
ample of through rates which will
quicken the interest Of the entire
country in the conduct of this Great
ure of state and national favor. AL
ready Massachusetts is made to know
her real master.
The session was we'll nigh spent
when the Wisconsin senator concluded
his set speech Mr.. Lodge was the
first to speak in reply, Declaring he
could not afford to allow what Mr..
T.aFollette had said to pass without
n word on the attitude of the people
of Massachusetts, he entered upon
statement intended to show Mr.. La