The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-05-25
HARVESTER TRUST
IS NEXT ON LIST
Of TRUST BUSTERS
Attorney General Plans
Civil Action
Against it
HAS MADE INQUIRY
Department of Justice Won't
Use Data Secured by Bu-
reau of Corporations

reau of Corporations
Washington, D. C.-The Interna-
tional Harvester trust is to be attack
ed by the United States government
on the ground that it is a combina-
ton in unreasonable restrain of
trade. This fact has attracted es-
pecial interest in view of the magni-
tude of the operations of the trust.
The decision to hale into court was
arrived. at several weeks ago.
Officials of the department of JUS
tice have been studying the decision
of the Supreme court in the Standard
Oil case with a view to its effect up
on the International Harvester and
other prosecutions which Attorney
General Wickersham had in contem-
plation. So far as can be learned,
Mr.. Wickersham and his assistants
are of the opinion that there is
nothing in the decision which will
make ineffective the case prepared
against the harvester trust.
The proceeding will be civil and
not criminal in character. The gov
ernment will endeavor to bring about
the company's dissolution in the
same way that it has succeeded in
destroying the Standard Oil combina-
ton. 1t is expected the suit will be
filed in federal court in Chicago.
Books Shown on Request.
The decision to prosecute the Har-
vester trust is the result of a thor
ough investigation which government
experts have been making for some
time. Herbert Knox Smith, commits
sioner of corporations, was instruct
ed by the senate several years ago to
investigate this combination. His
work has been comprehensive and
thorough. He has had access to the
books of the corporation, and its Of
ficials have been extremely obliging.
The department has not used the da-
ta obtained by Mr.. Smiths agents,
but has had, its own men in the field.
1t is the report of these officials that
is said to have determined Mr.. Wick
ersham to institute proceedings.
The International Harvester COM
pany has strenuously denied that it
has any of the evil features which
have predominated in such organiza-
tionc as the Standard Oil. 1t claims
that in its policy it has been actuat-
ed by sound business principles and
that it has done nothing which could
be construed as a violation of the
law. The fact of it's willingness to
throw open it's books to the commits
sioner of corporations, and, this with
out any request for immunity or con-
sideration from the government in
connection with prospective prosecu-
ton, has been counted big point in
its favor by the authorities here.
Data Gained by Government.
The information it gave to the COM
missioner of corporations, however,
will not be used in its prosecution.
The information upon which the de-
partment of justice has considered
action has been secured independents
ly and the government consequently
is relieved from any liability as to
its use Or the manner in which 1t
shall be used.
The International Harvester COM
pany is one of the great combinations
of American capital. Not only does
it operate in this country, but it has
plants in Canada, and it has tre-
mend'ous foreign trade. In its ram
ifications it resembles the Standard
Oil.
1t has been claimed, and the claim
was particularly advanced by SEN
ator Hansbrough when a member OF
the upper house, that the -combina-
IiOA was d u uSI III Cuo WOl56 SSuSe VI
the word, sitting competition and
compelling farmers to pay high pric.
es for their agricultural machinery
These assertions were denied by the
officials of the corporation.
Would Gust Lumber trust.
st. Louis, Mo.-The taking of dep.
ositions in the suit brought by the
state of Missouri to oust the lumber
trust from the state of Missouri, aim.
ed at over 100 companies, was be.
gun here today before Robert M
Reynolds, special commissioner.
5 PER CENT COMPANY
QUITS THE STATE