The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-08-08
COMBINE
IS NIPPED IN BUD
greed Decree In Civil Anti
Trust Suit Failed At
\ Chicago.

5#Hn agreed decree in a civil antitrust
nit against h Western Newspaper
and h American Press asso-
$S&{ation, the federal government today
took an advanced step under the Sher-
nan law to prevent what the depart
sEHaent of justice regarded as the pos
14Ability of a combination to influence
$3he thought of 10000, 900 readers Of
aKlral newspapers.
ss$sS The proceedings of this antitrust
a%&nit We're terminated in record time,
$4Mnited States District Judge Kenesaw
A%andis entering the agreed decree inn
Nnediately following the filing of the
governments petition and the answers
sss0f the defendants.
}S# List of Defendants.
The suit was directed against the
following corporate and individual de-
sSE Central West Publishing ompan
24holding company of the Western
Newspaper union;) Western Newspa-
sEper union, Western Newspaper union,
New York; George A. Joslyn, Of
&Dnnaha. Neb.; John F. Cramer, Mil
waukee; H. H. Fish, Omaha; M. n.
sSMcMillen, Chicago; American Press as
ASociation, organized in New York;
lAmerican Press association, organized
In West Virginia; CORTLAND Smith,
G. Brogan and Maurice r. Gar
afnond.
The decree is designed to end a Bit
ter trade war between these corpora
lions, which furnish boiler plate"
land ready print to thousands Of
scountry newspapers. The defendants
restrained from combining or con-
tinuing alleged unfair methods in COM
sspetition which would result in Destroy
or the other n a complete
for the survivor with all it's
power of influencing the SEN
on economic and other impor-
stant questions of the readers of the 49,
900 small newspapers of the United
States, which it is estimated fall into
sthe hands of two-thirds of the people
of the country.
Consolidation Sought.
Pointing out that an attempt was
made in 1909 to bring about a console
dalton of those interests, the govern
ment petition says:
The expectation was that in view
the great power thus acquired in
disseminating information the united
property could be disposed of at great
profit to those interested In instilling
certain economic ideas in the minds of
h public and hat it was the design
@that such a disposition Of it should
he made.
THE circulation from week to week
s6of Information and Of articles dealing
with questions of public importance is
cot itself interstate commerce, and for
one concern to acquire the power to
ssdistribute all such formation and to
deceive the public by its perversion, is
itself a serious and substantial re-
stralnt n a monopolizing of
Interstate trade and commerce. Such
g restraint and monopoly will result,
SHtlnl1SS he raStr9jnad from
carrying on their warfare against each
other.
Prevents Free Discussion.
IF all plate and ready print were
Supplied by one concern the petition
adds. then the news thus distributed
and the discussion of economic and
other important questions thus sup
piled. would all be designed to meet
the sentiments of the readers to one
particular view, and that presentation
of diverse views and full n free dis
scussion of important questions from
different standpoints which is essential
to their proper understanding and
hence necessary to the best public in
terests would be prevented"
William M. C~hantland, special as
sistant to the attorney general, inves-
tigated and developed the govern
ment's case; James A. Fowler, assist
ant to the attorney general. conducted
the negotiations which brought about
a friendly settlement. The petition in
1 equity is also signed by Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham and James Wflker-
I son, United States attorney at Chi
cago.
Mr.. Wilkerson explained the Defend
ants had agreed to the decree on being
shown copies of the governments petit
ton before the appearance in court.
The answer to the governments Pc
tition as presented by the American
Press association. through it's attorney,
Charles A. Broadell, of New York, was
an admission of all the allegations
concerning the Western Newspaper
union and q denial of all the allega-
tons against the American Press as
ISOLATION.
Charles F. Harding. counsel for the
Western Newspaper union, also sub
mitted an answer denying all the ale
cations against the organization, but
admitting the allegations against the
American Press association.