The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-28
No Criminal Action,

No (rfmiuAB aCt1Uh
WASHINGTON, oct z7.--There il
to he no criminal action started, 81
this time ct least. against the muiu-
nilllenaires named IN the govern
ments dissolution suit against me
steel corporation.
Attorney General W1ckersham made
this clear this afternoon lie would
not say what further action might 1e
taken by the government against the
great f1nanclei's and business men, Who
nave guided the steel trust ana otnef
com binations like The STANDARD eh ana
The tobacco trust. thai have been de-
fined by the supreme Court AS DIG
Iawless business,
The question 81 either action
against parties named iH the govern
meuts brief viii be Determined iatef'
ne said,
But there has been no criminal
act!on AGAINST the prominent III
Standard on aud this tobacco trust
No. there ms been none admitted
the attorueygenerai
1t Was announced that !. NJ. hickin-
son r. Ia rEvF rfrsr ffsft-s7--se
against tne steei trust aud he VIII
nave corps ct competent assistants
Hope springs Eternal.
Fl" Hone springs eieruRi you kn"w
said MIR NiGkerHaam when asked IL
he thought the steel tr9st wdbta di-
vest Itself voluntarily OF holdings ana
change methods, whivh the govern
Ynent contends makes Ii Sioiat"F 81
the Sherman antitrust law
Il nave no information that the
steel trust is to take any such action.
The case Of the government Will pe
pressed In an orderly maiaaers II may
take three ar four months before
comm issioner in appoinlesi 10 taEe tee-
tineny, II IL my opinion this case
will stand apart from all other cases,
The more | study the STANDARD 'li
and the tobacco trust chses the
stronger grows my belief that eaFh
one Of the cases of this character
n,ust proeeed along Its own or In
.tv.dual lines. In other words 40
not think any case decided VIII de-
teruine procedure in this case. 1T vs.
frnuos.thle To tell how long 1t VIII
he before we get final decree III
this case The Standard GIL case was
decided In a remarkably shen perlo"
OF time. 1t took about eighteen months
only to get the great bulk Ui teS-
,i,nony In this case, but THIS was a"e
Ia the fact that Frank Il. Kellogg,
the prosecutor. kept Mt II constantly
Probe To Continue.
w III your AEiEtl 1PtElft@S NtA-'
Stanley steel Investigation eominlt-
tee work." MIR. wiekersham WAS ASK
ed
TT Will not" he answered, posi-
lively.
II wish to make this strong hnc
e,nnbstic. There !s no conflict pc
tween this department and tho inVos'
tjretion committee. We are proceed
}ng along different lines. When we
believed we had priua iaele last
that the steel corporation was V!"i"'
ing the Sherman law. we brought ON
suit Ia dissolve II. The Stanley com
ott,es Is making It's investigation Il
ascertain what legislation, IT any II
needed to meet certain economic con
aitions in tho business world. MT
STANLEY says he viii continue his work
We will not clash. His witnesses car
testify as freely as formerly uni"s
they take advantage Of their consul
,utional prerogative Of remainln'
silent on the ground they might con
yict themselves. do not thlnk I'M
will apply In many cases Thcre Il
a. ihis time no question Of criminn
chsrg.s-it IL Zig economic ques
ttop to be determined. We are t'
determine whether there has been
violation Of antitrust law, or an Al
temut at monopoly. as charged by IN
government,
"How can conditions obtaining prio
ia creation OF great combinations %
Ye-estat,lfshed without upsetting bus
ness" the attorney general was ask
cd
Those conditions can never ne re
establfshed' he replied.
This In nn cr5, of big business tolh
,ared with to-day business ~ twenty
ave snd thirty Years ago was N IL
.waddliug clothes. II IL for huSih"s
10 ind a way to meet ITS Erowth sh'
urorre-s under the law.
- t,,,5-frTr- Ia4s - f.asaibie NndE
tho present laws
II do. bat that remains 10 he proven
II II ia no, possible the laws sheul'
no changed. modified, OF added 20
Usually II ia better Ia Work nnoef w
laws We have than to haNo those la"
changed
Mr.. Wickersham said he Wouid ieaN'
Washington In time 10 appear IN TN
,-trcui. Court at New York Monday Il
represent the government when th
!. N dlssalutian plans az the topareee tuS
are taken up.
Ii ia understood Mr.. "fckershah
vtl pres mt the government ohle'
tious 10 those plans as not hreehinl
the monopoly which the suprein
ccurt condemned.