The Washington times., 1912-04-25
THE HARVESTER TRUST CASE.


pany was investigated by the Government, as many
other corporations and combinations we're, with the
view to prosecution under the Sherman act If it
were found justified. Ii just such an inquiry as
preceded the filing of the Roosevelt suits against the
Standard OIL Tobacco, Hartman railroad and other
combinations.
While this inquiry was yet unfinished the Depart
ment OF Justice, acting independently, was preparing
to file suit Mr.. Roosevelt asked Commissioner Of
Corporations Smith about the affair He replied
that his investigation unfinished; that at most
he believed it would develop no moral oblquities,
but merely technical case; and he expressed the
opinion that 1t was not the sort of case in which
prosecution was desirable.
Mr. Roosevelt directed that the suit should not
be filed, pending completion of the investigation, at
least.
Comes now the Taft Administration, in couson
with the Tory Democrats, and undertakes to make
Roosevelt scandal out of these facts They worth
considering
The Harvester case considered by the Roose-
welt Cabinet, which acquiesced in the policy pur.
sued.
MR.. TAFT WAS A MEMBER OF THE CAB
MET AND DID NOT PROTEST.
The prosecution suspended the earnest
recommendation of Mr.. Herbert Knox Smith, Com
missioner of Corporations.
MR. SMITH is ALMOST THE ONLY I'M
PORTANT ADVISER OF MR.. ROOSEVELT IN
CORPORATION AND TRUST AFFAIRS WHO so
FAR COMMANDED THE CONFIDENCE OF MR..
TAFT THAT HE HAS BEEN RETAINED IN OF
FICE. HE is TODAY, AND HAS BEEN
THROUGHOUT THE TAFT REGIME, THE COM
MISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS.
Mr.. Smiths record, however, justfes the con-
6dence that both Roosevelt and Taft reposed in him.
1t he who investigated both oil and tobacco and
. recommended prosecutions of both those combina-
lions Both were vastly bigger and more powerful
than the Harvester Company. Smith did not fear
them, Roosevelt did not hesitate to prosecute, them
Almost four years Of the Taft Administration have
passed, and the policy in which Mr. Taft acquiesced
when he was member of the Roosevelt Cabinet has
not been changed. The Harvester Company has not
! been prosecuted.
But in the exigences of desperately enfeebled
campaign for renominaton Mr. Taft is getting ready
to prosecute it. Before he files his suit he stops long
enough to attempt besmirching of the former Ad-
mnstraton, of himself as member Of it, and Of his
| own Commissioner OF Corporations. II is remark
able procedure. Its details yet remarkable
, Some time ago the Senate passed a resolution
/ asking for all correspondence in possession Of the
Attorney General affecting the Harvester Company.
: BY DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND
! ON THE GROUND THAT 1T WOULD BE IN
! COMPATIBLE WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST,
! THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REFUSED TO FOR
! WARD IT.
Later, on April %, the Senate called for cor
respondence merely covering the activities Of the
Taft Administration in that matter. To this resolution
no answer has been made.
But on April "a, at 2 o'clock, the Senate passed
a resolution by Mr.. Johnston of Alabama asking for
CORRESPONDENCE ON THE SUBJECT DUR
ING THE YEAR 1907.
Before that resolution was in print, before it
could have been officially attested and transmitted in
the regular channels to the Administrations
just two hours after it adopted-the entire batch
Of information, correspondence, etc.. had been hur-
ried to the Capitol and laid before the Senate
That is:
The Administration fatty refused to send ALL
CORRESPONDENCE in the case.
At the end Of three days it has failed to respond
to request for information concerning transactions
under the Taft Administration.
BUT 1T REQUIRES ONLY TWO HOURS TO
RESPOND TO A REQUEST, NOT YET OFF,
CIALLY TRANSMITTED TO 1T, FOR SELECTED
PARTS OF THE CORRESPONDENCE WHICH, IT
is THOUGHT, STANDING ALONE AND WITH
OUT OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT PRECEDED
AND FOLLOWED THEM, WILL MAKE A BAC
RECORD FOR MR.. ROOSEVELT!
1t must be kept in mind that the resolution which
produced results within two hours was by Mr.. John
ston of Alabama Who's Johnston2
A member of the committee that investigated
Lorimer and of the majority on that committee
which reported in favor of Lorimer!
Last session he voted to let Lormer retain hi
seat; this session he has reported that Lormer Wa
properly elected and will vote to retain him
That's about all concerning Johnston.
But il isn't all about this conspiracy to use th'