Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-03
Sweeping Prosecutions Coming,
Says WiCkershamL
RESULT OF RECENT DECISIONS
Attorney General Admits Before Con.
pressionsl Committee He advised"
Steel Trust and Shared Big Sugar
Fee.

court of the United States in the
Standard Oil and American Tobacco
company cases will result in a sweep
ing attempt to obtain the conviction
In criminal prosecutions OF violators
of the Sherman antitrust law. occord-
Ing to Attorney General Wickcrsham.
lie made this declaration before the
house committee o expenditures in
the department OF justice.
Mr.. Wickersham was asked why the
government thus far had failed to
lodge any trust magnates" in prison.
I'VE have done the best we could,
he said. but there has been an un-
willingness on the part Of juries and
courts to sentence men TO prison I'M
der the antitrust law.
Until the supreme court laid down
its definite construction in the two
cases just decided this reluctance was
well understood, for the law has al
ways been open to question. and has
been construed in different ways by
different courts.
"Jnries are becoming more willing
now, however. to convict. and judges
who have been reluctant to impose
prison penalties now have the supreme
court decisions to sustain them
Mr.. Wickersham said he believed
prison sentences would be the most
effective means of enforcing respect
for the antitrust law. Criminal prose-
cutions against the meat packers,
milk dealers, grocers. the naval stores
and window glass combinations and
other alleged violators OF tho anti
trust law, he said. would be augment.
cd by other prosecutions.
On this subject the government had
definite plans. Chairman Beall asked
why there had been no criminal pro-
ceedings against the heads OF the
Standard Oil and tobacco corpora
tions.
I'm view of the fact that we have
secured decisions In these cases only
within the lasftwo weeks it seems TO
me that question answers itself" said
Mr.. Wickersham. Nov. however. We
have an Interpretation of the anti
trust act upon which we can proceed. =
The attorney general was closely
questioned by Mr.. Beall as to the cot
ton cases in New York. but he refused
to disclose the goyernu. ,nt's future
action.
Asked why actions were brought
against those seeking to elevate the
price of raw cotton. rather than
ouo;n.. tha eninnnr. aud tho ohoayrc
who were trying to deprcss 1t. Mr..
Wickersham said the government had
believed II much easier To reach the
seven men controlling the raw cotton
pool. against whom it had exact infor-
nation.
Mr.. Wickersham testified that he
had advised the United States Steel
corporation on several occasions from
1905 to 1907. during his connection
with the firm OF Strong Il Cadwalader.
He also said that he had received
his share of the fee turned into the
| firm for services to the American Su-
gar Refining company. personally at.
tended to by Henry W. Taft. brother
of the president. Mr. Wicke fsham said
his share was about $4,000.
Mr.. Wickersham was questioned
chiefly by Representative Beall. of
Texas, chairman OF the committee,
concerning the Sale by the government
of friar lands in the Philippines to the
American Sugar Refining company. He
said Henry W. Taft had Al one time
appeared as a special attorney for the
government against the "licoriee
trust" part of the American Tobacco
company.
Mr.. Wickersham declared that after
he became attorney general John
Henry Hammond represented Strong
| 4 Cadwalader as counsel for the so
called sugar trust" in the purchase
OF the friar lands. He added that at
the time he gave his opinion permit
ting the sale of these lands he did not
know that Hammond represented the
president Of the American Sugar Re.
fning company. Mr.. Havemeyer
When asked about the. connection
of the firm with steel affairs. Mr..
Wickersham said: 81 personally have
advised the United States Steel cor.
poration In one or two matters"
Did Strong 4 Cadwalader ever rep
resent the New York Cotton Ex-
changer" asked Chairman Beall.
Yes. Henry w Tart was counsel
for the exchange" Mr. Wickersham
replied. "and think he still continues
in that capacity"
The chairman sought particularly to
learn from the attorney general why
the department of justice and treas.
ury department accepted 100000 in
settlement from the American Sugar
Refining company as restitution for
undervaluations at the port of New
York. rather than enforce the severe
penalties provided by law.
Mr.. Wickersham replied that the de.
partment felt the evidence AT hand
was not sufficient 10 support claim
for penalties. though II was his belief
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