Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-25
TRUST SUIT HELD
UP BY ROOSEVELT,
SENATE INFORMED
President, in 1907, Ordered
Prosecution Of Harvester
Company Halted.
PERKINS HAD THREATENED
TO FIGHT ADMINISTRATION
Colonel Today in New York Says,
I Haven't Begun to Fight"
TO GIVE STATEMENT TONIGHT
Herbert K. Smith Says Letters Are
Self-Explanatory-P Glad
They Were Given Out.
Bonaparte Explains.
PERKINS HAD THREATENED
TO FIGHT ADMINISTRATION
Colonel Today in New York Says,
Il Haven't Begun to Fight"
TO GIVE STATEMENT TONIGHT

against the International Harvester Conn
pany in 1907 was held up at the request
of President Roosevelt and that Presi-
dent Roosevelt held conferences with
George w. Perkins, representing the Nor
gan interests. regarding the impending
suit was disclosed late yesterday after
noon. when the confidential correspond
ence which passed between President
Roosevelt. Attorney General Bonaparte
and Commissioner Herbert Knox Smith Of
the bureau of corporations regarding the
suit was submitted to the Senate. It
went to the upper house of Congress in
response to a resolution, proposed by
Senator Johnston, democrat. and adopted
by the Senate about two hours before it
was in hand.
Mr.. Roosevelt in New York today said
he was preparing a statement. and would
give 1t out tonight.
In letter to Attorney General Bona
parte, written at Oyster Bay August p,
1907. President Roosevelt said he had
been comforting with George W. Perkins
about the affairs of the International
Harvester Company, and instructed Mr..
Bonaparte to consult with Commissioner
Herbert Knox Smith and Mr.. Perkins and
not to begin suit then.
Smith Refuses to Talk.
letter to President Roosevelt from
Commissioner Smith declares that .the
question raised against the harvester
company is purely technical one and
predicted that the Morgan interests,
which had been upholding the admin stra-
ton. were attacked on a technical charge
they would fight the administration.
While the administration has never
hesitated to grapple with any financial
interest, no matter how great, when it is
believed that substantial wrong Is be-
ing committed" Commissioner Smith con-
unued, nevertheless 1t is a very practi-
cal question whether 1t is well to throw
away now the great influence of the So
called Morgan interests, which up to this
time have supported the advanced policy
OF the administrations. both in general
principles. and in teh application thereof
to their specific interests, and to place
them generally in opposition.
Herbert Knox Smith, commissioner of
corporations, today would not discuss the
correspondence made public yesterday by
the Senate, in which he wrote President
Roosevelt in 1907 concerning the prosecu-
ton Of the International Harvester Com
pany.
The letters speak for themselves" de-
clared Mr.. Smith. Il have nothing to
say
Suit Was Ordered Deferred.
In his letter to the Attorney General
President Roosevelt says he had had
conference with George w. Perkins OF
the harvester company. and directs the
suit against that company be not filed
until l hear from you''
The letter Of the commissioner Of cor
porations reviews a conference he had
with Perkins, Mccormick and Deering,
quotes extensively from arguments ad-
vanced by them, and urges that suit
against the harvester company be not
brought.
TENDER . Commissioner Smith explains
that he was very frank In his statements,
as he knew they would come only under
the personal observations Of the Presi-
dent.
The letter Of the Secretary Of Com
merce and Labor, dated September e,
tndorses the letter OF Commissioner
Smith as indicating the Presidents posi-
ton regarding what he proposed to ef-
feet.
The confidential letter Of Secretary
Loeb. under date Of September a. trans
mfts the correspondence TO the Attorney
General. with instructions for that. ON
cal 70 bring them to Oyster LAY as the
President wished to talk the matter over
with the Attorney General
Roosevelt Enters Denial.
Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday published a
specific denial Of the charges made by
Representative Gardner Of Massachusetts
that the former President had ever SUD-
pressed reports concerning the harvester
trust In this denial Col. Roosevelt said T:
There never was a suppressed paper
OF any kind about the harvester trust.
nor. as far as I am aware. about any
other trust. during my administration.
On seeing Mr. Gardner's statement in the
papers 1 at once telegraphed to former
Attorney General Bonaparte and to Conn
missioner of Corporations Herbert Knox
Smith to ask IL there was any truth in
the allegations, and received from them
the following answers, which are self
explanatory:
You never asked us to have any re-
ports suppressed about harvester trust
or anything else. nor We're any reports of
any kind suppressed while was Attor-
ney General.
CHARLES ]. BONAPARTE.'
No reports Of this bureau on the har-
vester company were ever suppressed nv
You or under your orders during my COM
missfonership, or. to the best Of INV
knowledge during Mr.. Garneld's. OF
course. when We published reports on
beef and petroleum we did NOT Spc,,,A.