Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-05-18

IBv Morning journal Special Leased Wire
Washington, May 17.-Presideni
Taft's secretary, c. d. Hiiles, appeared
in Washington today and at the White
House gave out a statement concern
ing the delay in the prosecution OF
the International Harvester Company
of America during President Roose-
velts administration in 1907.
1t was not known here that Mr..
Hiles had left Mr.. Tafts party in
Ohio. He went to join the president
again tonight.
II have come to Washington to get
United States Attorney Townsend s
statement in reference to the Harves-
ter trust says the statement. Town
send was in 1907 one of the attorneys
In the department of justice and
had made an investigation of charges
against the International Harvester
Company.
at shows conclusively" tire state
ment continues. that President Roose-
welt compelled his attorney general to
discontinue the Harvester prosecution
in the fall of 1907, eighteen months
prior to the colonel's retirement from
office.
ITeSlueIl 1hOoStNtlt > ttiiii NHPii
ed two years after the matter had been
placed in the hands of the prosecuting
officer as the result of an invest'na-
ton. 1t is row apparent from the rec
ord that civil and criminal proSe'u-
tions were about to begin: that ABOUT
a year and half before President
Roosevelt went out of office George
w. Perkins took hand in matters;
and that in a remarkably short tnie
the whole matter was suppressed,
stifled, strangled or put through SOME
other process which, by whatever
name you call it, have no doubt Vas
quite satisfactory to the Harvester
trust II anybody was responsible Tor
it, besides President Roosevelt and Of
fcials acting directly under his IN
structions, it does not appear from
the record.
"Mr. Townsend began his inquiry
in the spring of 1906. On February u,
1907, Mr. Bonaparte transmitted
Townsends report to United states
District Attorney Sims at Chicago, IN
structing him to take up the matter
with the view to the institution OF
criminal prosecutions against the IN
dividuals and corporations implicated
Mr.. Townsend having recommended
prosecution. Sims wrote that II the
report proves to be correct, ii is my
judgment that civil proceedings can
be successfully maintained against the
Harvester trust and that probably
evidence could be secured to convict
the corporations and possibly num-
Der of the individuals concerned.
Thara 1ala nf which senator
Hansbrough complained to President
Roosevelt, and Mr.. Bonaparte wrote
TO the senate that the case would re-
ceive immediate attention. An effort
was made on the one hand to pro-
ceed with the prosecution at once on
the other hand to secure delay
through protracted investigation by
the bureau of corporations. In ms
statement Townsend says that during
1908 he was abruptly ordered TO the
Pacific coast to begin another inNesu-
cation and was therefore compelled
TO drop the Harvester matter. lie
says:
Attorney General Bonaparte told
me the reason why I had not peeh
authorized to institute the Harvester
trust suits. Shortly after L left WASH
ington, in the spring of lsof' the
Harvester trust people in some way
learned of my report and asked per
mission of Attorney General Bona
parte TO file written statement ps
way of defense. Mr.. Bonaparte cur
sidored this statement (of the Har-
vester trust) not only insufficient pS
way of defense. but as direct aoiiis-
sion of all the essential facts. shoWlhs
a violation of the antitrust law.
" Shortly afterward Mr.. Perkins
1.-THE organizer of the Harvester trust 7
called upon Mr.. Bonaparte. IN com
pany with Herbert Knox smith anu
I think Cyrus II. McCormick. lhes 4
requested Mr.. Bonaparte to accom- T
pany them on visit to Presideh'
Roosevelt for the purpose of persuad-
ing the president TO refrain from pros
ecuting the Harvester trust. Mr.. Bon
aparte refused to DO so. upon the
ground that the written statemen NJ
Tiled by the Harvester trust was IN
effect confession OF a violation "i
the law and that he tMr. BonaPartep !