New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-04
Meant Great Power.

Pointing out tnat an attempt WAS nlehe
IN 1909 to bring about a consolidation or
these interests the government petition
says
The expectation was that IN view of the
great power thus acquired In dlSSemlnat-
jns information the united property couId
oe disposed Of at great proht TO those IN
>tCrested IN iustilhng certain ECONOMIC
ideas in the minds Of the pubic, and II
was the design that such u disposition
OF fl should be made.
The circulation from week TO week or
Information and OF articles dealing with
questions OF public Importance IS OF itself
Interstate commerce, and for one con-
corn 20 acquire the power 20 distribute all
such Information and TO deceive the pub
JIG by its perNeTSlCn Is itself serious
and substantial restraint upon and d
incorporating OF interstate trade and COM
IftC.. such "a restraint and monopoly
Will result unless defendants be re-
strained from carrying on their warfare
2 'N-' each other.
n an plate and ready print were sup
iiIrd ~ one concern, tnCn the news thus
distributed and tho discussion Of econonl-
'Cs and other important questions thus
supplied would al lie designed 10 mould
Tho sentiments OF The readers 10 one par
ticolar view, and that presentation OF
diverse views and fUil and free discussion
Of important questions from different
htandpoints which is essential TO their
proper understanding and hence neces-
sary to the best public Interests would be
prevented.
William l. Chsntland special assistant
70 the ATTORNEY General. investigated and
developed the governments case. James
A. Fowler. assistant 10 the Attorney Cen
eral. conducted the negotiations which
brought about a friendly settlement. The
petition n equity also was signed by
H. Wilkerson. United States Attorney
at Chicago.
The answer to the governments petit
ton, as presented by the American Press
Association, through its attorney. Charles
A. Brodek. Of New York, was an adms-
zion Of all the allegations concerning the
Western Newspaper Union and denial
Of all the allegations against the Ameri-
can Press Association.
Charles T. Harding, counsel for the
Western Newspaper Union, submitted All
answer denying all the allegations against
that Organization but admitting the allie
cation against the American Press Asso-
. citation
Did Not Seek Dissolution.
The government did not seek the disso-
tuition OF either corporation. While II Is
charged that the Central West Publishing
Company. incorporated in Maine with a
capital of s5500,0OO. acquired from 1895 to
1q0a at cost OF over S2,O00O the bust
nesses Of competitors for the purpose oil
rnonopolizlng trade, the government holds
that the absorbed plants have become so
identified with the properties ana assets
of the defendants that separation would
be a legal impossibility.
As another reason against dissolution
the petition says that news gathering
and dissemination can best be performed
for the general public through the larger
agencies, III there still remains between
the larger agencies fair. genuine and sub
stantlal competition
The Central West Publishing Company.
A. il added. has an arrangement for FUR
nfshing paper matrices to the racine
Newspaper Union. which is the ready
print department OF the American type
founders Association, with Offices IN Los
ANGELES, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland
and Spokane. As a result. II ~ SAID
there Is no competition between the de-
eepdants and the Pacific Newspaper
Union.
The defendants as a whole, together
with the associations with which they
have trade agreements. supply, 1t Is
.stated, more than % per cent Of all the
newspapers In the United States using
plate or ready print. The American Press
Association. according TO the government
furnished until recently nearly four-nfths
Of al the plate matter used in this coun-
try. while the Western Newspaper Union
supplies Sc per cent of the ready print
service. The smaller independent agen-
cies, the government adds, supply less
than 500 newspapers with either stereo-
typed plate or ready print.
As the result Of the failure Of negotia-
lions TO effect a consolidation In 1909.
the petition charges. the defendants be-
gan a campaign Of destructive competi-
ton I'm 1911. and IT sets forth the alleged
methods pursued by each corporation.
The decree forbids the continuance OF
these alleged practices. Expire ssing the
belief that. unless forestalled. one or tho
other OF the corporations would BIO wiped
ont. the petition said:
A. ,he Nyesferu Newsnaper Union has