The Madison journal., 1913-02-22

fne government fiIed q disso,utio,
suit In the federal court at st. Paul
MINI. April 80, against the Ynterna
tional Harvester company, aiIegin,
violation Of the Sherman Law and max
z Ing the general charges that are Gus
tomary In bill Of this kind, and ask
ing for Whatever reliefs are oonstd
cred necessary ny the court. The bill
Is very long one and therefore can
not Be reproduced, but Il, sets forth
/. n eAect. that the Harvester compapy
b monopoly In restraint of trade,
las used oppressive methods in fore.
ING II agents to hpndie its goods ex.
clusively, etc. To these charges Pres.
adsnt McCormick has made the fol-
letlns reply: -
The International Harvester case
AldeFs radically In Its tacts from all
ehe so-cailed trust cases heretofore
decided under the Sherman law. The
International Harvester company was
cryanised IN 1907 fer the purpose Of
securing economy In the manufacture
anS sale Of harvesting machinery, and
q Increasing the foreign trade. It
hae no wster IN its capitalization, and
y has earned only . reasonable return
cn M capital.-less than per cent
- annum On the aysrageCThe prices
of ~ machines are now substantially
~ same a. In 1902, notwithstanding
- increase Of Is per cent In raw ma.
essh prices and 80 per cent in wages.
me company has caused a large saw.
~ b American farmers in the cost
q agrieultural implements- It has in.
cFsassd the foreign trade in agricuL
uFa, implements four-fold In nine
ysArs: tn screisn sales. In 1874 were
sver $4,000. .o00. 1t has not sold cheap
4 ahusA than at home. It's treatment
- ID customers. its employes, its
cents and its competitors has, been
- aecord with the highest standard
- s(hics and honorable business meth
ga To the farmers II has given, bet
~ service and better machines; to
eeeu6 and dealers. a less hazardous
and nuctuating business and to its en-
9'oges Il has given higher wages, I'm
Proved and sanitary working condi-
tlons. insurance against sickness, ac.
.cidenf and old age. and a share In the
proiitA
4 The charges Of misconduct found
IN the bill have been met and dis.
psosed by the company in other cases;
Hud they will again fail. because they
are untrue. The supreme court OF
'snssouH. IN a suit I'm which those
SaasEes were fully gone into, said:
Ua the whole. the evidence shows
SnaL TIE International Harvester. CON-
Pan5 aas not used its power to oppress
cr tnjure the farmels who are It's cu..
tomers."
II And again:
~ The price Of harvesting mac hines
. not Increased in proportion to the
Hereased cost OF construction or the
ereased merit of the machines. and
pondent has brought other farm Inn
enents into trade"
The evidence also shows that ths
Fnlnes Manufactured py the Infer.
onai Harvester company have been
satly improved In quality and the
OF repair material has been re-
SO IN price and placed within closer
neA Of the farmer
e The organizers OF this comnanv
- uncer the advice of able counsel.
IN the sincere belief that they
violating no law. II under later
pms 1t saould be held that the
as violated. 1t could only be !
oash tie creation Of power tn on-
- which has never been exercised
= ore than six years ago the com.
asked for Its Investigation by thu
- states government. and opened
ao books and records for inspec-
snd furnished all informa. ion re-
eo No suggestion of any change
oesipess methods has been made
~ the government at any time
.1 Z. full and frank discussior
whole situation has been had
zen the representatives of the gov.
at and the company, in an hon
se upon both sides to avoid
uon. Some plan may yet be
= which viii 'obviate the necessity
NJ protracted litigation by salts.
me claims made under the sher-
- Without seriously impairing
eoonomic advan ages and dement's
oy the organization of iris
any. No form OF reorga7.,,t'on
ser. was.suescsted by the g.vern
vAaeh seerced pra.;:eai:y JOS.
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