The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-01-31
Tile SLOW LAW
Dew lhe Btef 1,Ess Managed to sa,
OFF Sa;:s Sfsnsat Agaia.t L, in
BEHALF 0F THE PEoPIE

BEHALF OF TEE PEOPLE
Such Action as Tins On the Part Of
Judges and Judicial Officers is
What Has Caused the Demand for
the Recall Of Judges and Other
Officials.
In his excellent address before the
Bar Association in Columbia on
Thursday night last Judge Parker op-
posed the recall OF judges, and claim
ed that no such law was necessary
from the fact that the courts as now
constituted could be relied upon to
protect the interest of the people at
all points. He eulogized the legal
profession and tried to put the re-
sponsibihty for the laws delay on
others besides the judges and prose
cutting officers Of our courts. He
was particularly caustic on Roose-
velt, who, he said, was tryirg to un-
dermine the courts Ct the country.
The facts do not bear out Judge
Parker's contention that the courts
can be relied upon at all times to
protect the interest Of the public
against the greed Of the trade COM
bustions that have been organized
in this country to boost prices and
certain trade in violation Of law.
The clamor for the recall of judges is
caused by the judges almost openly
in favor of these unlawful combus-
tions in many instances. Take the
action Of the different judges be-
fore whom the beef trust has been
prosecuted. What better illustra-
ton Of the evils Of the laws delay
could there be than the bare record
Of the government case against this
trust.
1t was on May 19, 1902, that the
government fled petition fer an in
junction against The beef trust. Ten
days later temporary writ was is
sued by Judge Crosscup, to which on
Sept. 10 the packers demurred that
they were not engaged in Interstate
commerce. Feb IS, 1903, Judge
Crosscup overrulad the demurrer
and gave the packers until March
2 to answer.
On March /, the last day OF grace,
the packers announced an appeal to
the supreme court Of the United
States, but they lid not take it; so
on May 27 Judge Crosscup made the
Injunction permanent, when the
packers finally took their appeal,
having thus gained three months
time.
The case slep. the rest Of that
year, and not until July 25, 1904,
did President Roosevelt order the de-
partment of justice to put it on the
supreme court calendar to be tried
in October. 1t was actually reached
il. 1905, when on Jan. briefs were
fled by the government and the
packers; on Jan. IL the case was ar
gued, and on Jan. 81 the court sus-
tained Judge Crosscup, leaving the
way apparently clear for the trial
and punishment CT the packers.
Feb. 81, 1905, a special federal
grand jury was called in Chicago
to consider evidence against the
hackers. March Tresiden. Roose-
velt sent to congress Commissioner
Garfeld's report on the beef trust.
March 20 T. J. Conners, Armour's
general superintendent, was indicted
for meddling' with 4 grand jury wit
ness. April IA four Schwarzschlld
T. SuIzberger officials were indicted
for Interference with the service Of
in the trust suit.
July /, 1905, the grand jury in
dicted seventeen individuals and five
corporations, who on Sept. ( obtain
ed an adjournment: they were mot
ready to plead" On Oct. cc3 they
claimed immunity on the ground
that facts used in iadicting them had
been obtained from them by the bu-
reau of corporations, but On %ov.
It Attorney General Moody denied
this and declared that immunity had
not been promised. Meanwhile, on
Sept. 81, four beef trust officials had
pleaded guilty Of 1:bating and We're
fined $4,000 each--a trife to a
trust
This year 1906 tegan with a beef
trust victory. Commissioner Gar
field of the bureau OF corporations
admitted on Feb. % that he had
worked with the department Of JUS
tice, and on March 21 Judge Hum
phrey held that the individuals in
dicted were therefore immune but
that the indictments against the cor
porations stood. Mr.. Moody en- April
$ decided that no appeal could be
taken, and after the long vacation,
On Oct. 13. the department OF jus
tee dropped the case. Four years
az a half had gone fer naught.
IN 1907 the case was begun all
ever again with another federal
grand jury in Chicago, called Sept.
1S. No indictments were made that
time: more than g year later, Dec.
I, 1908, another grand jury was
called which again made no indict-
ments; Feb. 10, 1909, still! another
federal grand jury was called to in
restigate rebating and price-hXinS;;
also an effort was made 10 prove
that the meat trust exists, and that