The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-18
HILLES HAS
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE
Colonel Called Attorney General
Bonaparte OF Is Months
Before Term Ended.
Fear of Withdrawal of Support Of
J. p. Morgan Interests De
clared the Reason.

WASHINGTON. ID. C.. May IL
The Presidents secretary. Charles u.
Hilies. appeared unannounced in
Washington to-day. ana at the White
House gave out a statement con-
corning the delay in the prosecution
OF the International Harvester Com
pany during President Rooseveit's
administration in 1907.
Il have come to Washington TO get
United States Attorney Townsend's
statement in reference to the 'Har-
vester Trust" says the statement.
1t shows conclusively," the starej
ment continues. that ex-President
Roosevelt compelled his Attorney
General to discontinue the Harvester
prosecution in the fall of 1907. eiRht-
cen months prior to the >ColoneIs re-
tirement from ONCE.
Perkins on the Scene.
President Roosevelt's term expired
two years after the matter had been
placed In the hands OF the prosecuting
onicer as the result OF the investiga-
ton. IL Is quite evident from the
record that civil and criminal proceed
ing were to begin: that about a year
went out of ofice. George W. Perkins
took a hand in matters, and that I'm
a remarkably short time thereafter.
the whole matter was suppressed.
stieed, stranged, or put through some
other process which, by whatever
name you call II. have no doubt
was quite satisfactory TO the Harvest
er trust. II anybody was responsible
for IL besides President Roosevelt and
officials acting directly under his in
struction, it does not appear from the
record.
Mr.. Townsend began his inquiry
in the spring OF 1906. On February
2l, 1907, Mr.. Bonaparte transmitted
Townsends report TO United States
District Attorney Sims. OF Chicago
Sims wrote that II the report
proves TO be correct. 4 Is my judg-
ment that civil proceedings can be
successfully maintained against the
Harvester trust and that probably
evidence could be secured TO convict
the corporation and possibly a num-
Der or the individuals concerned.
There was delay. OF which Senator
Hansbrough complained to President
Roosevelt, and Mr.. Bonapare wrote to
the senator that the case would re-
ceive immediate attention.
Violations Admitted.
I'm his written statement Town.
send says that in the spring OF 1908
he was abruptly ordered the Pacific
coast to begin another investigation
and was therefore compelled 10 drop
the Harvester matter. lie says:
Attorney General Bonaparte told
me the reason why 7 had not been
authorized to institute the Harvester
trust suits. Shortly after left Wash
ington in the spring OF 1907. the
Harvester trust people in some way
learned OF my report and asked per-
mission OF Attorney General Bona
parte to file n written statement by
way OF defense. Mr.. Bonapare con-
sidered this statement (of the Har-
vester trusD not only insufficient by
way OF defenes, but as a direct ad-
mission Of all the essential facts.
showing a violation OF the antitrust
laws"
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Perkins
(the organizer OF the Harvester
trusD called upon Mr.. Bonaparte in
company with Herbert Knox Smith
and j think Cyrus n. Mccormick.
They requested Mr.. BOnaparte 70 ac-
company them on a visit 70 President
Roosevelt for the purpose OF persuad-
Ing the president 20 refrain from
prosecuting the Harvester trust. Mr..
Bonaparte refused to DO 80. There
after Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Smith land
] think Mr. Mccormick went out and
interviewed President Roosevelt and
succeeded in persuading him not to
-
shortly thereafter President Roose-
welt instructed Attorney General
Bonaparte not 10 take action"
Suppress Papers.
Mr.. Hilles then refers TO Colonel
Roosevelts declaration that none OF
the papers In the Harvester trust evr
were suppressed. and reviews the
recent presentation Of some Of the
CooHtinusd on Tssth ParsJ