Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-01
SUIT IS FILED
y Govt. Against Inter-
national Harvester Co.
Bks That The S14O,OOO,OOO
Corporation Be Dissolved.
aims That II Is a Monopoly In
Restraint Of Trade.

st. Paul, April 30.-By filing a petit
Pn In equity in the federal district
|urt here. today, the government in
tuted q suit against tho Internation-
Harvester CO., under the provisions
the Sherman antitrust law.
|rhe government asks:
Fiat the $140, 100000 corporation be
Bsolved on the ground that it is u
bnopoly In restraint of trade.
That injunctions be issued to bar
pm interstate commerce the products
the International Harvester Co, or
the International Harvester Co. of
herica, its selling agency. That re-
5sers be appointed to take charge of
b property and wind up the business
the defendant il the court finds such
zion compatible with public inter-
assistant District Attorney J. Mark
fkeS. who filed the petition before
|hge Charles A. Willard, announced
f.t the subpoenas issued for Cyrus
Mccormick. president of the Har
Fter Co. and for all the rest of the
individuals and seven corporations
10 are named in the petition, are re-
Unable. May 6. The defendants must
| er their appearance in court by
he 8, but it probably will be July /,
lore they will be required to answer
governments petition.
liter the government files Its repli
| ion. probably in August, the case
Jail likelihood, will be at issue. The
h. xx,fIf -
fm the district court of Minnesota
+ the United States circuit court of
beals for the Sth district, thus hast
ing the issue to the supreme court
| the United States.
|hicago. April 30.-In regard to the suit
b. today, at ST. Paul by the govern
|at against the International Harvester
Cyrus II. Mccormick, president of
Harvester Co., said:
The International Harvester Co. case
'ers radically in its facts from all the
ealied trust cases heretofore decided
Ter the Sherman law. The Interna-
bal Harvester Co. was organized in
/ for the purpose of securing econo-
in the manufacture and sale of har-
ling machinery and of increasing the
eign trade. 1t had no water in its
|italization and ii has earned only a
sonable return on its capital, less than
er cent. per annum on the average.
The prices of its machines are now
.stantially the same as in 1902, not
.hstanding an increase of Is per cent.
raw material prices and 90 per cent. in
les. The company has caused large
fng to American farmers in the cost
agricultural implements. 1t has in
|ised the foreign trade in agricultural
Elements fourfold In nine years; its
eign sales in 1911 were over s42. 200. 600.
has not sold cheaper abroad than at
he. Its treatment of its customers. its
bloyes, it's agents and its competitors
been in accord with the highest
hdards of ethics and honorable bust
3 methods.
The charge of misconduct found In
| bill has been met and disproved by
. company in other cases; and they
| fail again, because they are untrue.
| supreme court of Missouri, in a suit
which these charges were fully gone
!, said:
ION the whole the evidence shows that
International Harvester Co. has not
II its power TO Cypress or injure the
ners who are its customers.
price of harvesting machines has not
leased in proportion TO the increased
of construction or the increased
lit of the machines, and respondent
| brought other farm implements into
He.'
The organizers of this company acted
Ter the advice of able counsel and in
| sincere belief that they We're violat-
| the law. IL under later decisions it 1
lula be held that the law was violat-
1t could only be through the crea-
of power to Cypress which has
Ter been exercised.
|dore than six years ago the company
I'D for it's investigation by the United
(Continued on Page Twelve.)