The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-23
TRUST JUN
PUT ON Meth
Counsel for Defense Sta
Fate of Big Business Isl
in Their Hands
LAWYERS CONCLUDE
OPENING STATEMEN
First Witness in Cases
Chicago Meat Packers
Will Be Heard On
Tuesday

CHICAGO. Dec. ga procos1
injecting into the minds Of the -
which Is trying the beef packo49%
realization of the momentous task al
fore them. how they hold the fate
a nations industries In their h4m
and may pitch the country into CT
ny their decision. was begun bys G1
torneys for the defense today. R
Attorney John 8. Miller. wizard M
immunity bath and priority immud11
fame, put the finishing touches 0ll*
two days appeal by pointing ont
the jury that business systems Of e.
country were on trial and intima41
the dire effects of anything wt4~L
might disturb the even tenor OF Co.
merce. His final and personal ~
peal to the hearts and pocketbG0
of the Jury was as follows:
You may be rich and living
yoar income. you may be poor e&xi
ing your living by the sweat OF y0S
brow. GU may be a merchane, mA&<
facturer or a farmer: whatever w
station in life. the condition Of trA&
and commerce In your country vftA1S
ly affect you" E
The weight of responsibility on tr
jury was increased by the op0ul&
statements Of Attorney John Bsrtn&
Payne, when he said that -'whatey&
affects Chicago affects every hau,il2
in the Middle West" 81
Dcnfcnse Closes in Relays. a5s
The defense closed its openifyG
statements in relays, with AttormxH
Boarders appearing for the dsfen2s
Payne for Edward Tilden. and Att0fs
ney Miller for the Armour group.
Attorney Borders declared TIL
politics was behind the general prO06s
cution OF trusts. He pointed out flaM1
II would be physical impossihjI1l
Tor the packers to govern rricoo =
cept to agree as to tho amount
meat to be shipped into certain ter11G
tory and promised hat the goveruuS
would be unable to sustain such
charge.
dydd p-g etosthal etaoin shr tilushrt1ri
The most startling statement iS2
made was the admission that . isl
margin OF cost was the same thlS1
as fixed price for beef. but dents
the existence OF such fixed usn1
gin. SsSs
Attorney Borders contended tls1
less than 35 per cent. Of the e.
meat industry was controlled by m
defendants. He pointed out that ~
packers were paying the farmers 11Ss
100000 a day for cattle. and that IT.
increasing cost OF cattle was rean0n
sible for the increasing cost OF ho
Attorney Miller led the minds Pc
the jury through the mass Of -
tangles on which the defense plnGo
its faith. .sS;S}
Cites Sherman Law. Jsg
I'm view Of the recent decision n
the Supreme Court. the Sherman
does not mean literally EVERY c0t
bination in restraint OF trade -
legal. but those which are unrea6G
able and against public policy. ~
does 1t imply a rigid interpreta1t
of the word restraint. %ss
The law In this case II not a
as it Is In the case Of a murdee
a burglary. but IT is acknowlo&
that the law was not intended
punish combinations which do
operate to the injury of the PSI
The government spends millions
dollars year to guide the marin
from the rocks and shoals Do
think the limited States. your c.
try and mine. should plant rocko
shoals along the lines Of intAFG
commerce and not label them
lights and flags. but multiply r.
as they do mines In harbors, to-
stroy the vessels OF the enemy NJ SSS8
At the close of the argument Z
tournament was taken until Tue
The defense announced that Il
through with the opening stakA1
and would be ready to hear the
witnesses Tuesday. Il