The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-05-01
COMPANY is MADE DEFENDANT
IN A GREAT DISSOLUTION
3 A IT L e.
Government Asks injunction Against
st4o,ooo,ooo Corporation, Alleging
Monopoly in All Kinds of Farming
Machinery Made and Sold in U. S.

st. Paul, Mimi, April 30.--The gov
ernment today began its long-planned
antitrust suit against the Interna-
tional Harvester company in the fed
eral district court here. In a petit
ton in equity this $40, 100000 corpor-
alton, popularity called the Harvester
Trust, is declared to exist in viola
tion of the Sherman law, and It's dis
solution is sought.
The government asks the court to
issue injunctions to bar from inter-
state commerce the products of the
International Harvester company OF
America, it's selling agency. The ap-
pointment of receivers to take charge
business is suggested
Climax of Investigation.
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
discussion between President Taft
and Colonel Roosevelt, regarding GER
tain instructions which Mr.. Roosevelt
while president in 1907 gave to his
attorney general, Charles j. Bona
parte concerning the prosecution Of
the concern That feature of the
case was recently before the senate.
1t Is alleged that the committee
has advanced the prices of harvesting
machinery "to the grave injury of
the farmer and the general public"
| and is extending its business into
all lines of agricultural implements
with the purpose Of monopolistic con-
troll. ..
The government alleges that the In
ternational Harvester company con-
trolls at least 80 per cent of the trade
in the United States in harvesters
or grain binders, IS per cent >of the
mowers and more than so per cent
Of the binder twine.
Governments Petition.
The petition says:
'"The opportunity for any new COM
petitors are constantly being closed
by the defendants in all lines Of
agricultural implements; the agencies
for distribution; the recall imple-
rnent dealers and others are rapidly
coming under their undisputed con-
troll"
The bill contains these cha -ges:
Defendants have resorted to unfair
trade methods, have made .ra2c rate
and misleading statements concerning
rival machines or concerning the
credit of competitors for the purpose
Of destructive competition, have re-
duced prices of their machines in
some localities below cost of produc-
tion and distribution while keeping
prices up in other localities. 81
The International Harvester COM
pany was organized in New Jersey In
1902, prior to that time, the govern
ment declares there were ten or
twelve establishments for the manu-
facture and sale of harvesting i'm
plements in active competition with
each other. The alleged trust was
formed through the combination OF
the Mccormick Harvesting Machine
company, of Illinois; Warder, Bush
nell and Glessner company Of Ohio,
and the Milwaukee Harvester COM
pany. The aggregate annual outpuG
of these five concerns, it is said, was
about IS per cent Of all the harvest
ing machinery and 80 per cent of all
the binder twine produced and sold
in the United States at that time
The company was incorporated in
New Jersey, with a capital stock or
iginallp of $120,000,000.
The earliest possible date at which
the case can come to issue before
Judges Sanborn, Hook. Adams and
Smith. comprising the Eighth circuit,
is about August 5.
Todays suit follows the failure OF
negotiations to reach friendly set
tlement without recourse to fight
in the courts.
The corporation appealed for a
hearing by President Taft, which was
granted. The president, however,
sustained the attorney general and
l. -