The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1911-05-25
A New Move Against the Trusts.

which the Department of Justice has
started against the Eastern States Re-
tail Lumber Association is of general
interest. It is the National Govern
ments first proceeding under the
Sherman antitrust act of 1890 as inter
preted by the Supreme Court in the
Standard Oil case. This concern,
which is popularly the lumber trust
has many affiliated organizations and is
one of the most widely diffused of all
great combines. It is the intention of
the attorney general to bring suits a.
gainst many other combinations at an
early day. The result in this trial will
be awaited with national interest, and
and it will also attract attention abroad.
because of the ground taken by the
court in the oil case the attack by the
government in tine lumber proceeding
will be from a new angle.
The New York Stock Exchange on
Saturday felt the influence of the as
sault on the lumber trust. There was
halt in the upward movement of pri-
ces which began Immediately after the
oil decision was announced. The sales
ammounted to only 2O5.800 shares,
which was a heavy falling off from the
three previous days but it was far above
the average of proceeding Saturdays
for the past few months. In some in
stances. too, prices ranged little high
er than at the close on Friday. But
the lumber suit was received as some
thing of a portent. It was held to
presage a general foray by the govern
ment on all the big combinations. Ia
ken in connection with the investiga-
ton by committees of the House
which have been ordered in the case
of the steel, the sugar and other cor
porations, the lumber action had ra-
ther depressing effect on the bulls,
Attorney General Wickersham lets it
be known that he believes he has a
strong case against the lumber combine
He says, or intimates, that it exercises
an unreasonable restraint on trade
and that it blacklists concerns which
refuse to do its bidding.
]. P. Morgan's optimistic interview
in Paris, however was quoted by the
bull spectators, with the hope of giving
encouragement for a further advance
Mr.. Morgan says the STANDARD Oil de-
cision is satisfactory" that it is just
what he expected and that the advance
on the Stock Exchange which it caus-
ed was entirely proper. It is under
stood that one part of Morgan's visit to
France is to finish arrangements for the
listing of several American stocks on
the paris bourse. He believes as do
many other fnanciers that the Standard
Oil decision will have a bracing effect
abroad on American securities. On
the day after the decision most of the
| American shares dealt in on the Lond-
stock Exchange went up. The COM
ments in the London newspapers show
that the outlook over there for Ameri
can shares has suddenly frightened.
The London Statist, while also taking
a rosy view of the prospects here utters
a word of caution. 1t says thatEit will
not be safe to induce a much farther
advance unless the harvest here should
turn out to be large. This considera.
ton will have a restraining influence
on the bulls. A big crop would be
bracing factor of great consequence
Happily. the outlook in this direction
in. this direction is favorable. Winte
wheat promises to break all the record
The acreage in. cotton is far above las
wears mark. There is general feel
ing among planters that 12,000,o ,oO'
bale crop is no longer adequate, ant
that one of 100000 bales or NOR
would find ready market. A wee
from today the decision in the case c
the American Tobacco Company is ex
pected. The court will adjourn O
that day to October, and it probably
as anxious as the general public to ge
e that case off its hands, so that trad
l. can adjust itself to the new situation