The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-15
Ohio Senator. in His Maiden
Speech, Says Oil and To-
bacco Magnates Are Amen
able to Arrest.
SAYS SHERMAN LAW
is VERY EXPLICIT
Antitrust Statute Is Easier
to Understand Than to
MisunderstandH He Wants
Prompt Procedure.
tNatsonai News Association)


Washington. June l5.-Declarins
the Standard OH and the American To
bacco companies have violated tho
law for more than twenty years and
that the men In control or these cor.
porations are amenable to criminal
prosecution, Senator Pomerene, the
new Democratic member from Ohio,
in his maiden speech today, demanded
the department of.justice to institute
proceedings against both corporations
and their officials. Pomerene's imme-
diate subject was the resolution which
the attorney general to institute pro
ceedings aginst the officers and direc-
tors OF these companies. He took up
the Sherman antitrust law. and said
that 1t was perfectly explicit in it's
provisions. and easier to understand
than to misunderstand
Speaks Very Plainly.
ITO think that the Standard OIL
company. its officials and attorneys
did not know the business OF this con-
cern was being conducted In flagraut
violation Ct the law is inconceivable, !"
he declared. He discussed the his
tory OF the organization OF the Ameri-
can Tobacco company and the fight
against It. In the courts, including the
action which resulted ir the recent do
cision Of the Supreme Court against
the monopoly. Now" he continued,
with these plain findings Of the facts
and conclusions by the court that the.
statute has been violated what reason
can be given by any sworn official for
not continuing his fight against them
In order to bring them to the bar Of
justice?" What excuse can any law
maker or any executive give for TAIL.
ure to enforce this law? A decent
sense Of self respect requires the gov
ernment either TO enforce this law Or
repeal H.
What respect have these oil and to-
bacco men shown for the law? What
disposition have they evinced to com
ply with the order OF the court? The
history Of the Standard Oil company
/ and its allied interests In Ohio and
Western Pennsylvania. has been i
continuous record on their behalf and
on behalf OF their officers. incluSsng
John d. Rockefeller, TO monopolize
the oil business and destroy by means.
fair or foul. where he could not buy
out his competitors at his own price.
His pathway is marked by q greater
number OF victims at his own price.
His pathway Is marked by = greater
number OF victims whose business en-
reers he has ruined by his unlawful
methods than that OF any man In the
Industrial history OF this country and
yet he goes unwhipped Of justice.
IT would seem the fruit OF victory
against these companies would be lost
to the government and to the people.
unless followed by criminal prosecu-
| tion-
II say this. not out of spirit OF re-
sentiment" exclaimed the Senator.
but In order to teach them that they
too must obey the law. One OF these
men behind the bars win do more to-
ward restoring the majesty of the
law tnan anything that has been done
by the federal government in the last
generation. It IL high time the Amer
lean people should understand wheth-
er the stars and stripes are to be the
emblem Of their power and authorI-
ity or whether that emblem shall ~
the oil barrel and the tobacco leg"