The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-08
MAKING coon WITH \ VENGEANCE.

Henry A Wise who for little over two
years has been United states District Attorney
for the southern District of New York has
been remarkably successful in his prosecution
of big eases" for the government That he has
the habit Of bringing things to pass some of
the great corporations of tho country oan testi.
fy During his iucumbeuey, he has been instru-
mental in securing convictions which have
placed a good many offenders behind the bars,
and others that have enriched the government
to the extent of over $5.ooo,000 in fines
In addition to his relentless prosecution Of
Illegal corporations he has been especially &c
tive in the pursuit or get.rjch-quiok concerns,
and the manufactures Of fraudulent patent
medicines He has never lost a big case and out
Of the total of several hundred prosecutions
the verdict Of not guilty has been recorded
only twenty-five times And this successful ac-
tiYity has cost the government in his compen
sation only $1ooQ0 a year
Mr., Wise has recently been conspicuous in
the prosecution of the uirc trust officials. many
of whom plead guilty and were required to
pay tine Of $1,000 each and costs. 1t viii be
remembered that he made earnest protest
against such settlement of the cases upon the
ground that it Was. ia effect, compromise
with the defendants and the prosecution CON
templated no such compromise The presiding
judge, however as is usual in the case OF such
offenders decided that the majesty Of the law
would be indicated BY the imposition of
fine
1t is true that Mr.. Wise entered his office
at suspicious moment for the conduct of his
cases The nation had been aroused to the na-
grant and widespread violation of the anti-
trust laws by great corporations aud uuiver-
sal public sentiment in favor of proceeding
against them lent tremendous moral innu
ence 10 their prosecution But when all this
is said, it must be remembered that similar Of
lenses were meeting with half hearted prose
euton in other quarters, and the delay in
bringing offenders to Justice elsewhere was
causing public scandal and creating a public
disgust Nos withstandng therefore. the forces
outside Of himself that were backing him, the
principal explanation Of his conspicuous sue
cess lies in the personality and character OF
the man His splendid ability mis- indomtabte
courage his persistent earnestness aud energy
MS lfoFINH{5bie NNtFdctFr-tHtSe are the
sources from which his unparalleled success
has come And these qualities fit him in emf
uent degree FOR continued usefulness and
sbonld foreteli career Of conspicuous service
It is worthy Of note, as demonstrated by the
success Of Mr. Wise. that the payment Of ex-
trayagant fees 10 special attorneys BY the De
partment IF Justice, for the conduct Of causes
against the trusts has been unnecessary and
ndefcnsble. Surely there are other men of his
spirit and parts, whose services the nation
might have levied upon without the necessity
Of rohhing the corporations of their advisers
and friends and rendering them large com
ponsation that they might be persuaded to
smite tho band hat had formerly blessed them
with the peeuniary emoluments of corporation
service We cannot escape the surprise. how
ever. that tine generous Wlckersham did not
dismiss this $4,000 a year United States at
torney and re-snpoint him a special attorney
with compensation in large fees 1t would have
been in keeping vita his usual method of pro-
coedure. and his failure 10 do SO awakens the
suspicion that he mas. have had it in for Mr.
Mjse