The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-30
BIG SUIT is FILED.
CONTINUED from Page one.>

The filing of the suit comes as the
climax of five years of investigation by
| the government. Lately the case has
figured prominently in political dis
cussions by President Taft and Colonel
| Roosevelt in regard to certain instruc-
lions which Mr.. Roosevelt while presi-
| dent in 1907 gave to mis- attorney gen.
| eral, Charles J. Bonaparte, concerning
| the prosecution of the concern. That
feature of the case was recently before
| the senate.
In brief, the government charges the
| Harvester company with being a COM
bination in restraint of trade, monop-
olizing or attempting to monopolize the
manufacture and sale of harvesting
machinery. 1t is alleged that the COM
pany has advanced the price of these
articles ''to the grave injury of the
farmer and the general public" and IS
extending its business into all lines of
agricultural implements with the pur-
pose of monopolistic control.
The Governments Allegation.
The government alleges that the In
ternational Harvester company con-
trolls at least 80 per cent of the trSEe in
the United States in harvesters or grain
binders, rs per cent of the mowers and
more than so per cent of the binder
Irvine. There are only three or four
manufacturers of harvesting machinery
in the United States other than the In
ternational Harvester company the pc
paratively small, and as their business
does not embrace the entire United
States in many sections of the country
the International Harvester has COM
plete monopoly of harvesting machin-
cry. Considering agricultural imple-
ments of every kind, other than har
vesting lines, the petition declares that
the output of the alleged trust amounts
to over 30 per cent of tie whole. The
government contends that the corpora
~ 49,, %oI 49, ~
curing control of a great majority of
the retail implement dealers in the
United States who are made their eX-
elusive selling agents. The petition
says:
1.-THE opportunities for any new COM
petitors are constantly being closed by
the defendants. In all lines of agri-
cultural implements, the agencies for
distribution, the retail implement dea-
lers, and others are rapidly coming I'M
der their undisputed control, and I'M
less prevented and restrained their COM
plete unchallenged dominion of every
branch of trade and commerce in agri-
cultural implements of all kinds may
be confidently expected at an early
date
The government charges that the de-
PENDANTS have absorbed competing COM
panies but concealed their ownership.
permitting them to be advertised as
wholly, independent and without con-
nection with them the trust or any
combination Intending thereby to mis-
lead, deceive and defraud the public
and more effectually cripple existing
and keep out new ones"
Unfair Methods.
The bill contains the charges that de-
have reSOrted to unfair trade
methods; have made inaccurate anG
machines or concerning the credit of
have by misrepresentation
sought to induce competitors agents !
and dealers to abandon them and in |
divers unfair ways have endeaVOred |
to destroy them and for the purpose of |
destructive competition have reduced |
prices of their machines in some To- !
calitieS below cost of production and |
distribution while keeping prices up |
in other localities. Defendants have |
Systematically brought up patents upon |
harvesting machinery, tools and i'm |
Elements acquired all new inventions |
therein, in order thereby more effect
ually to perpetuate the combination and |
The following corporations and indi-
viduals are mentioned as defendants in
the petition:
International Harvester company,
Harvester company of |
America, international Flax Irvine
Wisconsin Steel company, the
Wisconsin Lumber company, Illinois,
Pullman & Southern Railway company,
Cyrus H. Mccormick, Charles Deering,
James Deering, John J. Clessner, Will
am H. Jones, Harold F. Mccormick
Richard F. Howe, Edgar A. Bancroft,
George F. Baker, William J. Louder
back, Norman B. Ream, Charles Steele,
John A. Chapman, Ebert H. Gary,
Thomas D. Jones, J. P. Wilson, William
L. Saunders, George w. Perkins.
The prosecution of the case will be
directed by Edwin P. Grosvenor, spec
al assistant to the attorney general.
The International Harvester company
vas organized in New Jersey in 1902
Prior to that time, the government
declares there were 10 or II establish
nents for the manufacture and sale
If harvesting implements in active
with one another. The
alleged trust was formed through the
,on bination of the Mccormick Har-
resting Machine company of illinois,;
he Deering company of Illinois; the
Plano Manufacturing company of Hi
lois, Warder. Bushnell and Glessner
# Ohio and the Milwaukee Harvester
company.
The Annual Output. {
The aggregate annual output of these {