The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-08-08
PRINTING COMBINE
IS NIPPED IN BUD
Agreed Decree In Civil Anti
Trust Suit Failed At
: Chicago.

SnicdSo, Aug. o.-Slth the ming OK
an agreed decree in a civil antitrust
suit against the Western Newspaper
union and the American Press asso-
citation, the federal government today
took an advanced step under the Sher-
man law to prevent what the depart
ment of justice regarded as the pos
sibility of a combination to influence
the thought of 10000, 900 readers of
rural newspapers.
The proceedings of this antitrust
suit We're terminated in record time,
United States District Judge Kenesaw
Lands entering the agreed decree i'm
mediately following the filing of the
governments petition and the
of the defendants.
List of Defendants.
The suit was directed against the
following corporate and individual de-
PENDANTS:
Central West Publishing company
(holding company of the Western
Newspaper union;) Western Newspa-
per union, Western Newspaper union,
of New York; George A. Joslyn, Of
Omaha. Neb.: John F. Cramer, Mil
Waukee; II. H. Fish, Omaha; M. a.
McMillen, Chicago; American Press as
ISOLATION, organized in New York;
American Press association, organized
in West Virginia; CORTLAND Smith.
w. G. Brogan and Maurice T, Gar
mond.
The decree is designed to end a bit
ter trade war between these corpora
lions, which furnish boiler plate'
and ready print" to thousands of
country newspapers. The defendants
are restrained from combining or con-
tinuing alleged unfair methods in COM
petition which would result in Destroy
ing one or the other and a complete
monopoly for the survivor with all it's
potential power Of influencing the SEN
timents on economic and other impor-
tant questions of the readers of the &c.
600 small newspapers of the United
States, which it is estimated fall into
the hands of two-thirds of the people
of the country.
Consolidation Sought.
Pointing out that an attempt was
made in 1909 to bring about a console
dation of those interests, the govern
ment petition says
1.-THE expectation was that in view
of the great power thus acquired in
disseminating information the united
property could be disposed of at great
profit to those interested In instilling
certain economic ideas in the minds Of
the public and that it was the design.
that such a disposition of it should
be made.
THE circulation from week to week
OF information and Of articles dealing
with questions of public Importance is
of itself interstate commerce, and for
one concern to acquire the power to
distribute all such formation and to
deceive the public by its perversion, is
itself a serious and substantial re-
straint and a monopolizing of
interstate trade and commerce. Such
a restraint and monopoly will result,
unless defendants be restrained from
carrying on their warfare against each
other.
Prevents Free Discussion.
IF all plate and ready print were
adds. then the news thus distributed
and the discussion of economic and
other important questions thus sup
piled. would all be designed to meet
the sentiments of the readers to one
particular view, and h a presentation
of diverse views and full n free dis
cussion of important questions from
different standpoints which is essential
to their proper understanding and
hence necessary to the best public in
terests would be prevented"
William M. Chantland, special as
sistant to the attorney general, inves-
tigated and developed the, govern
ment's case, James A. Fowler, assist
ant to the attorney general. conducted
the negotiations which brought about
a friendly settlement. The petition in
~ S ShS
eral Wickersham and James WIker-
son. United States attorney at Chi
cago.
Mr.. Wilkerson explained the defend
ants had agreed to the decree on being
shown copies of the governments petit
ton before the appearance in court.
The answer to the governments pc
tition as presented by the American
Press association. through it's attorney,
Charles A. Broadek, of New York, was
an admission of all the allegations
concerning the Western Newspaper
union and q denial of all the allega-
lions against the American Press as
ISOLATION.
Charles F. Harding, counsel for the
Western Newspaper union, also sub
mitted an answer denying all the ale
cations against the organization, but
admitting the allegations against the
/. American Press association.