The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-06-16
SENATOR AFTER
OIL, And TOBACCO
RESOLUTION ENFORCING GRIM.
INAL PROSECUTION.
THE SENATE is APPEALED TO
Resolution Will Not Have Same Effect
as Statute, But Proposes to Declare
to Department OF Justice That Grim
ina Proceedings Should Begin.

Washington, June 10. Criminal
prosecution of the officers of the Stan
dar Oil company and the American
Tobacco company was demanded to-
day by Senator Pomerene, who adj
dressed the senate on his resolution
calling on the attorney general to
undertake such legal action.
The Ohio senator declared at the
outset that the Sherman antitrust law
was specific in it's authority to press
such a suit against conspirators who
restrained trade. He commended that
the lawyers doubts of the meaning of
the statute were ''in proportion to the
size of the fees they receive from their
clients" and the Interpretation of the
law by the supreme court of the Unit
ed States was clear.
"Now with these plain findings of
fact and conclusion by the supreme
court that the constitution has been
violated" he said, what reason can
be given by any sworn court official
for not continuing his fight against
them in order to bring them to the
bar of justice; what excuse can any
lawmaker or any executive official
give to the people of this country for
a failure to enforce this law when they
are every day eXerting themselves to
punish infractions of the law against
other transgressors with less money
and less influence at their command.
A decent sense of self respect requires
the government either to enforce this
law or to repeal it."
Declaring that if criminal prosecu-
lions had been undertaken when the
law was first enforced there would
have been no such concentration of
power as eXemplified by either of the
two corporations under discussion.
Mr.. Pomerene said that the ruling of
the supreme court must be followed up
quickly in the most vigorous fashion
"or the fruits or the fruits of those
victories would be lost to the govern
ment and to the people"
speaking for myself" he said, 81
think it is high time that the Amer
lean people should understood wheth-
er the stars and stripes are TO be the
emblem of their power and authority
or whether that emblem shall be the
oil barrel or the tobacco tag"
The senator summarized the opin
ions of the supreme court in bott
cases and contended that they dis
closed the fact that both corporations
and their officials had been violating
the law since its passage in 1890. He
declared there was precedent for hi!
resolution of instruction to the attor
ney general, inasmuch as the latter
had failed to undertake the cTimina
litigation, although it is provided FOL
in the antitrust law.
The attorney general is but a ere
ature of the law" he said. His office
was created by congress. He II
clothed with such powers and required
to perform such duties as congress
sees fit to demand of him. 1t can ado
to or it can take away from those pow
ers, whenever in its judgment it Il
deemed proper. 1t is not proposed thi
resolution shall have the same fore,
and effect as statute, but it is pro
posed to declare to the department o
justice in no uncertain way that thu
congress which made him and clothet
him with power is cognizant of tn