The Washington times., 1910-04-19
Attorney General Wicker
sham Indifferent as to
Whom 1t Hurts.
BEGUN IN INTEREST
OF CHEAPER FOOD
New York Brokers Attempt 10
Shield Employees Concerning
Transactions on Exchange.

With the fat statement at the De-
partment Of Justice that the Attorney
General instituted action against the
New York cotton pool with indiffer-
ence as 10 whom II might hurt. and
with the broad inumation from the same
source that further action may be taken
to restrain similar gambling I'm other
commodities. the Administration goes
today q step further than Il has vet
done in its decision TO do everything
possible TO reduce the cost Of the neces-
stiles Of life
According 10 those who are close 10
the Administration, Mr. Wickershsm is
in possession Of information which will
lead 10 other suits similar 10 the one
started against the Ereat bull move
ment in cotton on the New York Cot
ton Exchange
When James Patten, of Chicago, re
puted 10 be the genera Ifssimo Of the
movement 10 boost the price Of cotton,
intimated that the action Of the De
partment Of Justice vas e trick on the
part Of the bears 10 push down the
price OF cotton, he said nothing 10 hurt
the feelings Of Mr. Wickersham, and
II was in reply TO Patterns charge that
the statement was made at the depart
ment today that MI Wickersham was
determined 70 carry out the law, no mat
ter from whom he got his information
OF whom 1t might hurt
Corner Held Illegal.
Never before in the history Of the
country has q similar action been tax
en- BY the Department Of Justice II is
brought on the ground tia, il is un-
lawful for a group Of men-such as
Frank 3. Hayne. William =. Brown,
James Patteu, and others, as mentioned
in the present bull movement in cotton
to corner or attempt TO corner by
agreement all of a commodity in the
country with a view 10 controlling its
supply and its price
II IS well known n Washington that
Nr. Taft is not only doing all he can to
have legislation passed prohibiting the
gambling in grain and cotton futures,
but that ne Is In favor Of regulating as
lar as possible The present excuses OF
all sorts of gambling In stocks
The action Instituted by Wlc6ershau1
yesterday indicates that he and the
President are agreed upon program
which includes the decision TO employ
every opportunity afforded by the law
N order 10 check the practices 10 which
objection has been made 2 nd especially
70 prevent such manipulation Of the
values OF tire necessaTies Of life as Infltct
burdens upon the poor
Just what the action IN the future viii
be could not be ascertained TODAY Be
ment IS in possession Of much InfOTmd-
ton which viii probably be used IN
actions In the near future nothing could
be learned Nj WiClze TSham handles all
such matters on the theory that they
should be given no publicity until they
are ready TO be sprunE for final action
Disclosures Anticipated
The following Is the statement given
out by the Department Of Justice eN-
planning its action Ia regard to the bull
movement IN cotton.
"In connection with the discussion
over the prevalent high prices of food
and other commodities. the attention OF
the Attorney General has been directed
20 the alleged existence of certain pools
anG combinations operating corners in
various commodities and their effect on
interstate commerce.
Information was laid before him indf-
eating the fact that q combination had
been formed between q mum her of oper-
used raw cotton produced IN the United
States during the crop year 1gl9-1gle-
- hat d the result Of the operations
OF this pool, the price Of this cotton al
ready has been advanced so largely in
excess OF the normal price that the cot
tor manufacturers had greatly reduced
their output, rather than buy AT this
eScprD1tant price throwing out of en-
plo[rnenL upward o. . ut~ cent of the
cotton mill operators or the United
states, tnuS resulting IN the mOnOpOliZa-
ton or an entire visible supply OF raw
cotton in the market and the ammunition
IN me commerce in cotton Goods
II Is anticipated that interesting dis
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