The sun., 1912-08-05
court DECREE STOPS
NEWS SERVICE MERGER
Minds of G0.0O0.000 Readers
Might Be Wrongly Moulded.
Says Judge Lands.
GOVERNMENT FILED SUIT
Boiler Plate" Companies Per-
pctually EnjOined-Serve
5000 Country Papers.

CHICAGO. Aug. 4.-AsscrtinG in effect
that a merger influencing the thought
Of GO. .o0O. 900 readers of rural newspapers
would be against public policy, Federal
Judge kcnesaw Mountain Lands has
issued decree and perpetual injunction
restraining the Western Newspaper
Union. the American Press Association
and the Central West Publishing Com
pany from forming combination
The injunction was issued following
the filing OF stu thy District Attorney
James n. Wilkerson. at the instance OF
the Department of Justice.
The suit charged that the three or
ganiZations and their heads had formed
plans for q consolidation to monopolize
the business of supplying stcreotypcd
plate matter and so-called ready print
matter to .he smaller newspapers
throughout the United States.
The news is collected at central points,
put In type and the plates made for
shipment to country subscribers.
The news service of the companies Is
purchased by $1,000 small newspapers in
the nation with circulation Of around
u? 100000, according to the statements
Of the Government attorneys.
In the decree the court refers to the
dangerous influence the proposed
plate" combination would have upon
public opinion. 1t is pointed out that a
high charge for the plates would not
be the most serious injury to the public,
The news thus distributed and the
discussion of important questions thus
supplied would all be designed to mould
the sentiments of the readers To one
particular Nicw." reads the decree. at
| appears in the negotiations had between
the companies looking to their consoli-
dation that the expectation was that in
View of the greater power thus acquired
In disseminating information the united
property could he disposed of at great
| proht To those interested In instilling
certain ideas into the minds Of the pub
| lie ana that It WAS the design that such
| a disposition of 1t should be made.
This circulation from week to week
of Information dealing with questions
OF public Importance Is OF itself inter-
| state commerce and for one concern to
| acquire the power to distribute all ol
such information and 10 deceive tn,
public by Its perversion is itself IA scri.
GUS and substantial restraint upon and
monopolizing OF interstate trade ant
commerce
| "If all plate and ready print were
supplied by ono concern" the petition
adds. then the news thus distributed
and She discussion Of economies an,
other Important questions. thus sup
piled would an hc designed to moult
tn" sentiments of the readers To IN,
particular view. and that presentation
of divers" views and fun and free dis
cnssion Of important questions from
different points which IN essential I,
their proper understanding. and henc,
necessary To the hest public intcres
would h' prevented"
Attorneys for the organization az
scented to the entry ~ the decree. NJ
sorting ,h"r" was No wish to form m,
coalition II II was not desired by tn
Gov "rnin"nt and would he u violatio,
Of the sherman act.
The Government, began To invest igat
the plate business when the America,