The Washington times., 1910-06-01
Plans Formulated When
First lntimation of Inten-
ton Was Received.
INJUNCTION LIKELY
TO BE PERMANENT
Happenings Said to Have Had
Perceptible Effect on
Senate.

That the Department Of Justice will
be able TO obtain permanent injunction
against the twenty-five Western rail-
roads, charged with conspiring in viola
tion Of the Sherman law TO raise rates
in Western Trunk Line Association ter
ritory, is the confident belief Of Attor-
ney General Wickersham
President Taft shares this confidence
Attorney General wickersham did not
jump into the fight to prevent the pro-
posed higher rates going into effect
without knowing what he was doing. He
did not act on the spur Of the moment
or on q few hours notice. Instead,
he had been probing into the situation
for several days before the bill for a
temporary injunction was presented 10
Judge David P. Dyer. at Hannibal, Mo.
Mr.. Wfckersham today told the cir
cumstances of beginning the suit He
said this morning that the matter had
been first called 10 his attention last
Thursday, when a telegram was re-
ceived protesting against the proposed
increases. He did not act on this, be-
cause it was unsupported.
Hubbard of Iowa Urges Action
But on Friday he received more mes
Bages Of protest and Representative
Hubbard Of Iowa, who is an old pro-
fessional friend, called on him to tell
him Of the situation, how the shippers
in the Missouri river country were pro-
testing and how they were alarmed,
and to urge him to take action under
Ehe Sherman law 10 enjOin 0le in
creases-
Attorney General WickerEham was
impressed with the recital % Mr.. Hub
bard and. as he related the circum-
stances today, at once took steps 20
block the increases in rates He sent
to the Interstate Commerce COmmis-
sion and obtained afidayits showing
the circumstances Of the filing Of nc
tees Of increase by the roads. Among
other things. he obtained the infor-
nation that single attorney had hled
the notices or increase for ali the
roads
Having accumulated the necessary
information he proceeded to order one
of his assistant attorneys, Edwin P
Grosvenor, trusted man. TO Start Tor
st. Louis Sunday night Mr. GrosVenor
went with the petition for writ of
temporary injunction in his pocket
Shippers Not Informed.
When the delegation of shippers call
ed on Attorney General Wickersham
Monday afternoon. Mr. GrOsvenOr was
or well on his way there. In telling
about it today Mr.. Wickersham ex-
plained that II had been deemed advis-
able 10 keep it a secret from the rail
roads we're the suit was going TO be
filed. Otherwise. the roads might have
appeared and argued that tie tempOr-
ary Injunction should not issue without
a hearing and this would have post
poned the issue OF the restraining order
until after June ! and the rates would
have gone into effect. Hence, when the
shippers appeared Monday afternoon.
Attorney General Wickersham did not
tell them what he had done
While II appeared that the Cabinet
Vetn over the matter yesterday ard
cor Enseled about IL, as a matter Of fact
there was no question the suit would
be begun from the time Mr.. Wicker
sham dug into the facts last Friday All
Saturday. He was convinced from the
beginning Of his Investigations thar the
Government had a strong case and he
is now more fully convinced than ever.
Schedules Not Sent Out.
While he had made up his mind 70
bring action before the shippers saw him
Monday. they were able TO give him
some valuable information. One of the
facts they presented TO him as tending
to show conspiracy was that when tie
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