The Washington herald., 1912-05-18
HOHT.R. .BALKED
HARVESTER SUIT
TOLD BY HILLES
Continued from rag. one.

to the institution Of criminal prosecu-
tion against the individuals and corpora
tions Implicated. Mr.. Townsend having
recommended prosecution.
''sims wrote that II the report proves
to be correct, Il Is my judgment that
maintained against the Harvester Trust,
and that probably evidence could be Sc
cured tc convict the corporation and
possibly a number Of the individuals
concerned.
There was delay. Of which Senator
Hansbrough complained TO President
Roosevelt. and Mr. Bonaparte wrote to
the Senator that the case would re-
ceive immediate attention. An effort was
made on the one hand to proceed with
the prosecutions; on the other hand, to
secure delay through a protracted In
vestigation by the Bureau OF Corpo-
rations. In his written statement Town
send says that in the spring Of 1908 he
was abruptly ordered TO the Pacihc
Coast 10 begin another Investigation and
was, therefore, compelled TO drop the
Harvester matter. He says:
Attorney General Bonaparte told me
the reason why had not been author
lied to institute the Harvester Trust
suits. Shortly after left Washington.
in the spring Of 1907. the Harvester Trust
people, In some way. learned OF my re-
port. and asked permission Of Attorney
General Bonaparte to file a written
statement by way OF defense. Mr.. Bona
parte considered this statement (of the
way OF defense. but as direct admis-
sion Of all the essential facts, showing
a violation OF the antitrust laws.
Called on Roosevelt.
Shortly afterward. Mr.. Perkins (the
organizer of the Harvester Truso called
upon Mr. Bonaparte. in company with
Herbert Knox Smith. and think Cyrus
II. Mccormick They requested Mr..
Bonaparte 20 accompany them on visit
10 President Roosevelt for the purpose
OF persuading the President to refrain
from prosecuting the Harvester Trust.
Mr.. Bonaparte refused to do so. upon
the ground that the written statement
filed by the Harvester Trust was in ef-
feet a confession OF a violation OF the |
law and. therefore, he CMr. Bonaparte) |
would not stultify himself by temporlE- |
Ing with the subject in any manner. !
Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Smith |
land ] think Mr.. McCormick) went out
and interviewed President Roosevelt, and |
in persuading him not to
prosecute the Harvester Trust, and
shortly thereafter President Roosevelt /
not to take action.
THE suppressed papers show also that /
George W. Perkins was referred to as
he representative of the 'far-reaching 1
Morgan interests and that Mr.. Perkins
aid TO Commissioner Smith that II the |
Harvester Trust was to be attacked. then
he Morgan interests were going to fight
yhereupon Mr.. Smith wrote to President
Roosevelt that II is a very practical
ff1eafH0p NEhaNha- d nal 20 NhrnxKy I
low the great influence of the so-called
doTgan interests President Roosevelt
ad sent the report to the Attorney Gen
raj with these directions: Please do not
lie the suit till hear from you
Col. Roosevelt met the damaging dis
losure by saying that Mr.. Taft, as a
member OF his Cabinet, advised the ac-
lon that subsequently WAS taken. He
ven alleged that IL his memory served
i'm, Mr.. Taft made the motion In Cabi-
et meeting which resulted in substi-
lting an Investigation for a prosecution.
Records Brought In.
The records of the War Department
'ere then introduced by President Taft
D show that in the fall OF 1907, during
he full period OF the correspondence, he
'as absent from the country in the
hilippines and elsewhere. Colonel
.OOsSNelI Inen snlIteO MS ground ana
aid that President Taft approved the
oppression Of the suit after his return
January, 1903.
This last charge Is disproved by the
scord, which shows that on November I
1857 CMr. Taft was out OF the country
ON early in September until December, ,
OO, Mr.. Herbert Knox Smith, Com ,
issioner Of the Bureau Of Corporations, :
'lephoned Mr.. Perkins. at the Presi- q
snt's order that the President took the Z
ew that the bureaus Investigation
lould come before the suit Why. then, Z
ould the matter be brought before the '
abinet for serious discussion in jan 4
aTy, 1905?
IF II was brought before the Cabinet in t
lnuary, then Mr.. Perkins had a SCOOP
sixty days on the Presidents conf ,
initial advisers. II is significant. too. 1
at the order directed Commissioner
NTH 10 communicate with Mr. Perkins,
J. p. Morgan & Co, and not with the
or attorney Of the Harvester
rust"