New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-19
REPLIES TO H|LlES
BY QUOTING BONAPARTE
Dixon Says Statement Issued
from White House Is Piece OF
MendaCity.
'CALLSFACTS DEMONSTRATE
Declares President Had Full
knowledge of the Matter and
Took Deciding Part in
Determination

Washington, May ia statement "on'
tanning portions of a letter from ex-Attor-
ney General Bonaparte, in which he says
that Mr.. Taft. as Secretary OF War. took
part in the Cabinet meeting at which II
was decided to withhold prosecution of the
International Harvester Company because
Of the Bureau OF Corporations investiga-
ton, was issued by Senator Dixon from
the Roosevelt national headquarters to-day
The statement took the form OF al answer
to that issued from the White House last
night by Charles d. Hiles, secretary to the
President. The statement says.
Nothing more despicablc and degrading
has ever occurred in the history of Amcrl-
can politics than the attempt OF MI ran,
through deliberate. knowing and sustained
falsehood. TO misrepresent the facts resaru-
ing the case of the International Harvester
Company and to avoid personal RESPONSE
tility for non-action in the courts by me
government against that company. Inc
statement issued at the White House last
night IS but piece of the menddcity tha'
has characterized the entire Tart utterahce
on this subject
is undenably aware and which are capable
of complete demonstration. show:
First. that Mr.. Taft was present at tlc
Cabinet meeting where the matter was dlS-
cussed and the final decision reached. and
that he not only had iull knowledge OF the
matter but took a deciding part in the de-
termination.
Second, that the Senate, upon being made
aware OF the situation by Senator Hans
brough, distinctly refused to stop the IN
vestigation by the Bureau of Corporations
and permit the Department OF justice 10
go ahead with it's prosecution
Third. that Senator Hansbrough. an IN
veterate opponent of the Harvester com
rany. was The first man TO be advised OF
the situation by the Attorney General, ana
that Immediately he attempted 10 secure
action by the Senate which would permit
the department to begin court proceedings
Townsend Investigations Reviewed.
The statement reviews the Investigations
OF the Harvester company made in 1905 by
g. d. Townsend. for the Department or
Justice, and I'm 1867 by the Bureau OF Cor
porations. which was acting under direction
of the HanSbrough Senate resolution. In
the summer OF 1907, 1t Is stated. Attorney
General Bonaparte began special invesu-
cation. with a view 10 prosecution. lie
did not learn until August OF the activities
Of the Bureau of Corporations. but then
suggested that the latter be continued. The
statement continues:
Early in January. 1909. Attorney General
BOnapartc had received sufficient informa-
ton from the special investigators Of the
Department of Justice TO lead nm To be-
lievc that "A prosecution Of the Harvester
company should be undertaken. In re-
cert letter discussing this matter Mr..
BonaDarte says:
then told the President that I was
prepared now to recommend a prOsecu-
ton. According 10 my recollection he
aSsented- certainly Ac did not forbid
one-but | soon afterwIrd asCertain"d
from Mr. Smith Commissioner Of cor
porations). probably through an inquiry
on my part that BIS investigation,
which ! had supposed concluded, was
still in progress. | then submitted tn"
matter at Il Cabinet meeting. From re-
fleeing a good deal on the subject Tc-
Gently, ! have Il rather distinct recol-
lection OF the discussion which ensued.
stated the question without express
ing positive opinion either way. lie
says Straus and Garfield advised against
prosecution substantially on the
ground set out I'm Herbert Knox
smiths letter Of September. 1877. Z"
the President. Secretary Cortclyou, IN
very few words. deprecated any I'M
portant trust prosecution al that mo
ment since the money market was just
recovering from the recent panic.
Secretary Root then suggested that.
as the law gave the Senate the right 10
order such an investigation by the Blu
reau Of Corporations. the bureau must
he considered as a legal agency q. the
Senate for the purpose Of making the in
VcstigatOn. and the situation was the
same as II a committee OF the Senat"
were engaged In such an inquiry, and
requested that a suit be postponed for
a reasonable time until this invcstica-
ton could be completed. I'm which case.
he argued. due comfy would require
that the request should hc granted