The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-26
ASK ALL TRUSTS
To GET IN LINE
WTCKERsHAM WANTS THEM TO
CONFORM WITH SHERMAN
LAW QUIETLY.
IS Us, A STATEMENT
DIRECTOR IN STEEL MONOPOLY
SEES ~ n INTENTION OF
GOVERNMENT TO STOP
PROSECUTION.
ISSUES A STATEMENT


~ e. ioHK. Sept, 25, Two events
IN the financial world to-day were or
supreme Importance to the big busl-
ness Interests of this country.
First 4 statement was issued by
.attcruey General Ngfckersham defin-
ing the governments attitude toward
the Steel TrGst which Is constrlIed
~ the directors Of that corporation
10 mean a much less aggressive policy
en- tac part Of the government In the
future than las been heretofore I'M
derstood
Second. \ tentative plan for the set
tlement VI the tobacco trust,e raorgsn-
izaticn tn compliance with the decision
of the Supreme Court.
The attorney generals statement
follows
1t has been the consistent uoIlcv of
the department not Ia state in as
vance Of actual proceedings that So
ton against any particular party was
in contemplation There are MANY
reasons why this is the proper t,osi
ton 70 maintain In Inc nrst place
until investigation Is Sornplete # nor
known whether or not a case of yto7,
1ion az law exists. and In the second
Place. the character of the proceeding
cannot be- determined untu then. and
If TIE facts SHAH require criminal pro-
ceedings to be resertDd To ordinary
prudence would demand that publicity
lie not given to tsat fact until indict-
nents are found.
Duty Of Department.
The purpose and dF4y - fne derarf-
y1apt ~ f1sr3~e v.tfh rasnart ~ ,,n
enforcement of the sherman nav
against large combinations which are
formed or exist in undue restraint or
Interstate commerce. ar which are ar.
tempting monopoly. has been declared
number Of times ~ the President
and the attorney general
The carrying out Of that purpose
REQUIRES the careful if3yest#gaftor ~
every one ~ the combinations. whose
size and control If the particular bust
ness Isl which engaged would give rise
to A PRESUMPTION that 1t was existing
Or acting iu contraReutton of thu anti
trust INV
II should no without saving that a
great complex combination ~ edrpor-
atoms under & centralized control do
animation the trade ~ ihe country In
an important Industry would not es-
Gaze the caraful study and cousidera-
ytoh III the. departmsut n neither or
ROT that examination would result IN
a proceeding 10 compel a dIs4ntegra-
tion 90 the combination into num-
Der of separte disconnected uarts
could not he determined until such
study and examination IS completed
Each case stands or its own footing
and depends upon It's own particular
facts.
May Defend suit
\ conclusion on the part ~ the de-
lartnent - bring suit against ia par
ticular com blnation, would not. Of
course, prevent ID from dIsputlng the
government contention aud defend
ing the suit Or. If ia anticipation u
action by the government those in
control ct such com bination should
work ont d plan " separation to
avoid illegal conditions the depart
nient would necessarily give very care
tai consideration 10 plan 50 as to
avoid hostile action II possible
Personally, ! should much prefer
that business interests should them
selves SO readjust their organizations
rs L. remove all possible criticism
concerning their Isgalt. than that the
department Of Justice should have
To conduct legal PROCEEDINGS 10 com
pei such readjustnent II cannot
be too positively stated that the de-
parimeut lis not inaugurattng a cam
paign against the business interests
Of the country or an tndiacriminate
attack on all large PROSPEROUS con
Germs, On the contrary, the care and
caution which the law officers OF