El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-18
DID ROOSEVELT
FAVOR THE Trust?
Hilles Says Harvester Com
bine Was Protested by
Former President.

Washington, D. c. May 18-Presi-
dent Iafts secretary, Charles D.
Hilles, appeared in Washington yes
terday and at the white house gave
out a statement concerning the delay
IN the prosecution OF the international
Harvester company OF America during
president ROOsevelt's administration ia
1907. 1t was not known here that Mr..
Hilles had left Mr.. Tafts party in
Ohio. He went TO join the president
again tonight
Il have come to Washington to get
United States attorney TOWnsend's
statement in reference to the harvester
trust" says the statement Town
send was. in 1907, one Of the attor-
neys in the department Of justice. and
had made an investigation of charges
against the international Harvester
company.
Tt shows co1clusivelyn the State
ment continues, that president Rose
velt compelled his attorney general 10
discontinue the harvester prosecution
IN the fall Of 1907, is months prior TO
the coloneIs retirement from office.
Perkins Italian Hand.
President ROosevelt's term expired
two years after the matter had been
placed in the hands Of the prosecuting
officer as the result Of an investiga-
ton 1t is now apparent from the
record that civil and criminal pro-
ceedlngs were about to begin; that
about a year and q half before presi-
dent Roosevelt went out of office.
George W Perkins took a hand In
matters, and that in a remarkably
short time the whole matter was sun
pressed, stifled, strangled, or put
through some other process which, by
whatever name you call it, have no
doubt was quite satisfactory 10 the
harvester trust If anybody was re-
sponsible for it besides president
Roosevelt and officials acting direct
y under his Instructions, it does not
appear from the record
Mr.. Townsend began his inquiry
in the spring OF 1905 On February
81 1907 Mr. BOnaparte transmitted
Townsend's report to United States
district attorney Sims at Chicago. in
structing him to take up the matter
with q. view 10 the institution Of
criminal prosecution against the in
dividuals and corporations implicated.
Mr. Townsend having recommended
prosecution. Sims wrote that If the
repOrt proves to be correct, il is my
Judgment that civil proceedings can
be successfully maintained against
the harvester trust and that proba-
bly, evidence could be secured to con-
Wet the corporations and possibly. a
number of the individuals concerned"
There was delay, Of which sena tor
HansbrOugh complained TO president
Roosevelt and Mr., Bonaparte wrote to
the senator that the case would re-
ceiTe immediate attention. An effort
was made on the one hand TO proceed
with the prosecution; on the other
hand to secure delay through a pro-
tracteG investigation by the bureau OF
corporations.
"In his written statement Townsend
says that in the spring Of 1905 he was
abruptly ordered to the Pacific coast
TO begin another investigation and
therefore compelled 10 drop the har-
vester matter. He saws;
A. rnrsr1arr General HDmnrlnHfn told
me the reason why I had not been au-
thorized to institute the harvester
trust suits. Shortly after I left Wash
ington, In the spring Of 1907. the har-
vester trust people in some way
learned Of my report and asked per-