The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-30
Against as Many Associations
and Numerous Individuals.
MEN HIGH UP
Among the Defendants Is Frank
Jay Gould.
Also a Son-in-Law Of j. Pier
pont Morgan.

charging restre mt of trade in violation
of the Sherman antitrust law, have
been returned by a federal grand jury
here against as many associations and
long list of individuals comprising the
so-called wire trust affiliated with
the steel industry. Prominent among
the defendants are Herbert L. Satter-
lee, a son-in-law of ]. Pierpont Nor
gan, and William P. Palmer, president
Of the American steel & Wire company,
subsidiary of the United States Steel
corporation, and Frank Jay Gould. Of
New York president of the Old Domin-
ion Iron & Nail Works company.
What this suit charges" District
Attorney Wise said, lis an agreement
in restraint of trade"
The government does not seek to es-
tablish a physical or fiscal merger OF
the properties or interests indicated,
/ but a series of pools to maintain prices
and apportion territory, in elimination
of competition, and so in violation Of
the Sherman act.
The most prominent individual de-
PENDANTS and a full list OF the assocl3-
lions in which they are members fol-
lowss
individuals Named.
observation-disclosures J. Gould, presl-
| dent of the Old Dominion Iron & Nau
works, Belle Isle, Richmond, Va; her
! bert L. Satterlee, president OF the da-
/ birshaw Wire company, YOnkerS, n. ~
| William P. Palmer, president of the
! American Steel & Wire company Wau-
legan, Ill, and Worcester, Mass; Cnas.
f. BROKER vice president OF the An
! sonia BRASS & Copper company, An
! sonia conn. and member from Con-
necticut of the Republican national
| committee; Harry G. Stoddard' presl-
dent of the Trenton Iron company
i Trenton N J.; Frskine Hewlett, vice
Hrn m
Frank N. Phillips, president OF the
| American Electrical works, Phlladei-
phia; Ferdinand w. Roebllng' presl-
| dent of John Roebnng SONS CON-
| nanv Trenton and Roebling, n. j.;
Philip H. w. Smith, second vice Pres--
dent Of the Standard Underground ca
HE company. Pittsburg, Pa, Oakland,
/ cal. and Perth Amboy, N J.
/ Aesociations-Th Horse Shoe Man
ufacturers' association, William +.
! Palmer and others; Bare WIRE copper
association William p. Palmer ana
/ others. VVeatherproof & Wire Magnet
association William 2. Palmer ana
! others; Lead Encased Rubber Cable
| association William P. Palmer ana
others: Wire Rope Manufacturers
association, Edwin E. Jackson, Jr, ana
Ferdinad W. Roebling and others; IN
| derrrOund Power Gable association,
! Philip H. w. Smith and others; Tele-
i phone Gable association, FRANK N
. Phillips ana OlneIS-
The Charges.
The General charges in all the IN
dictrnents are the same, allowing Tor
| the difference of the business IN Eyhlch
the defendants were engaged Ihus
one indictment reads:
ssRecause said corporate at all
times. have been, and in fact now are
separate and distinct, from each otnef
their said interstate business
should have been conducted
bv each strictly on a competitive basis
ana would be so conducted but for the
mia wf,Il conspiracy hereinafter men
| toned"
: | socia+ions organized under their as
= | ISOLATION names and each elected a
sunervisor and adopted rules and reg
Nations An arbitrary rating was de-
= ferY1ined it is charged, by the ratio OF
o11tn11t for ar. agreed time; each mem
her was obliged to pay $4,000 or less
into a fund called 1.-The general de-
posit's and in case any members 1dliTu
to abide by the regulations ms uepo'i1
Raw materials were bought, it is al
legged in one indictment, on arbitrary
: and non competitive prices TO oe
! agreed upon by said defendant, ana
heing prices lower than for those
which the respective corporations
would be enabled to purchase said raw
materials but for the unlawful consplr-
acv herein described
IN The indictnent against the Bare
Conner Wire association it is charged
that the corporations forming the as
5 ISOLATION produced 95 per cent OF the
' entire bare copper wire consumed IN
: fhe United States and that they had
absolute control of the price.
Upon conviction, each of the defen-
. dants is liable to not more tnan
years imprisonment, OF me u 90
II w When William P. Palmer, head of
II tbe American steel & Wire company
H was informed of his Indictment he
sarhis is all new to me. I have
i At the ONCE of J. P. Morgan & Co,
II Thomas w. Lamont, one of the mem
II bers of that firm, said that he had no
II knowledge concerning any of the is
sociations mentioned in the fndfcs-
II Gould Is in Paris.
II Paris. June 30.-Frank ]. Gould, who
II as president of the Old Dominion Iror
| and Nail works, is one of those ind1ct-
HI ed bv the United States grand jury ~
II New York for offenses against the Sher'
| man antitrust law, is stopping here
II Mr., Gould said today he would have n
III comment concerning the Indictment e
II make until he had received fuller ans
II personal information from New York
II Seem Not to Be Worried.
II New york, June 30.-The fedora
II indictments against nine wire pools
II several Of which have neen out Of
II business since 1909 and 81 wire man
II ufacturcrs and their employees OF
II charges Of restraining trade in wire
II products, were subject matters O
II consideration today by several Of ths
II defendants and their counsel The de
II PENDANTS will appear in person or OF
II counsel before the United States cir
II cult court next week. None of th'
II defendants had any statement to maxi
II today, though one of the counsel II
II the case remarked that he did moi
ii think the cases would ever come K
III trial.
III District Attorney Wise of the United
II States court, with two Of his assistant
II who assisted in preparing the cases
II have LEFT the city for q brief vacation.