The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-06
Governm ent Wants
Company Cut Into
Distinct Units.
REVIEWS CAREER
OF ORGANIZATION
Requests That Defendants Be
Given Reasonable Time to Sub
NIT Proper Plan of Reorgani-
cation Opposing Counsel
Argues That Evidence Dis
proves Assertion of Guilt.

ney-General James McRcynolds, con-
cluding final arguments for dssolu-
tion Of the international Harvester
Company before the United States Dis
trict Court this afternoon. asked that
an interlocutory decree be entered b.
the court declaring the Harvester con-
Germ monopoly in restraint of trade.
He requested that the defendant have
4 reasonable time to submit a proper
plan of reorganization.
1T is the view OF the government
that this company must be cut up into
separate and distinct units" the AT
torney-General said. This must be
done in such way that tho stock
holders OF the different parts must be
distinct. We insist that il is an econo-
mic inpossibillty for companies owned
b. the same people TO furnish bona
fide competition"
Mr.. McReynolds condemned Cyrus
Mccormick. whom he called tho foun-
der Of the Harvester trust" because
Mr. Mccormick had not appeared in
the case.
Mr.. McReynolds reviewed the career
OF the Harvester Company from its
organization ten years ago, pointing
out specific instances in which, he said.
the law had been violated. furnishing
basis for an order OF dissolution under
the Sherman law.
story of Defense Absurd.
The story Of this powerful mon
opoly. marking time. or losing busi-
ness here and there az related by some
of the counsel for the defense Is alb
surd, said tho Attorney General.
Take the finances OF this concern in
1908, and take them now, and what
have we?"
In 1903. The total business done by
the International Harvester Company
was s5S.000,o00; In 1912. it had in
creased 20 -si25.0c0;ooo: In the same
length of time it's capital had in
creased from sl2o.Q0o,00o to sl63 0oo,-
600 and between 1909 and 1911, the
latest figures available. the assets of
this concern had Increased from $780,
100000 10 s223.ooO.Oo0. These figures
in terse form. tell the story of the
rapid growth OF the power Of this con-
Germ This expansion has been SO
enormous that the word Of this corpor-
alton has become absolute law to
thousands and thousands.
when the Mccormick, the Deering.
the Plano, the Champion. the Milwau-
kee and the Osborne companies en-
tered this organization this monopoly
automatically was born Existing
competition was wiped out.
The international Harvester Com
Eany, in its first year. had the follow
ing percentages OF the nations bust
ness in the varied lines: 9S per cent OF
the binders. - per cent OF the corn
binders, % per cent of the mowers. S5
per cent OF the rakes and 40 per cent
OF the twine.
situation Is Unchanged.
And there is nothing III the evidence
to show that this situation has changed
In ten years or course. there has been
some competition. We got that story
III the tobacco case and in numerous
other trust cases. But the fact stands
out that we have more than 90 per
cent of the great harvesting companies
OF the country put under one company.
NO man who looks on that picture
can fail 10 see that this concern had
the absolute power TO iiX prices. OF
course, there existed no desire to get
100 per cent of the business. 4 GER
tain amount of competition keeps down
public sentiment and helps in other
ways.
Intent is wholly immaterial Phil
anthropic purpose cannot be pleaded az
justification for the result. When these
defendants purposely entered into this
organization into this conspiracy. they
laid themselves liable TO be charged
with guilt for the result"
John j.. Wilson. during his summing
up for the defense. predicted a price
war among harvester manufacturing
firms.
whether this plea is granted or
not" said Mr.. Wilson. there will he in
the next few years competition in these
lines such rs the world has never seen.
a war is now on. not only in agricul-
tural implement. but in harvester lines
which is going TO be the fierciest ever
known"
Evidence Disprovcs Guilt.
Edgar y. Bancroft of Chicago, gen
eral counesl for the harvester concern,
in his closing appeal. said the evil
aence dtsproved nearly every assertion
made by the government
Il desire TO impress upon the court"
the attorney said. that at the begin
ming there existed great rivalry be-
tween these five division managers.
And. doubtless. these managers. for a
short time, did business as il had been
done for year in the harvesting and
machinery lines. 1t is to this period
That nearly all the governments letters
and other exhibits related
Those conditions were not created.
but were amelioratcd by the Intcrna-
tional Harvester Company, instead of
being made worse"
AT the conclusion or Mr.. McRey
nolds's argument court was adjourned
ana the case was taken under advise
ment Mr.. McReynolds eSpected to