Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-09
ATTORNEY GENERAL M'REY.
NoLps CONSIDERING RRosEcu.
TON OF OFFICERS.
HARVESTER AND STEEL
COMPANY MEN LIABLE
prosecution or Ne Prosecution De-
psrds on pissolutien-suits Will
Follow u Finaneisrs Attempt 70
sl.ek Government Di'int'sratien
Plans. i ~

WA00l08 I00s OCts o. @AAAeA -.
ecut,ion Of officers Of the international
Harvester Company and Of tho United
states steel corporation may be In
yoked by Attorney General Morley
nolds before or Immediately following
the conclusion OF the pending civil
suits to dissolye these trusts.
It became known here today that the
attorney general has considered taking
this drastic step in connection with
these and other pending suits to en-
force the Sherman antitrust law.
Tho situation appears to be that the
attitude Of the department Of Justice
toward tho defendant corporation Of
Acials will be determined by their at
titude toward the attorney generals
plan for actual disintegration Of the
harvester and steel combines. Mr.. Nc
Reynolds will insist that these trusts
be dissolved in such q way that the
stockholders Of the present corpora
tons win not control the divorced con-
cerng.
Prosecutions Depend on Defendants.
II the defendants acqutesce in this
policy there will be no move in the d.
ISCt&OU OI CIAAu0l Q1OScCuSAOASs 4o0s
If they offer such opposition as the at
torney general deems unwarranted OBJ
struction Of the effort to restore condi-
tinos of actual competition in these In
. dustries he may seek indictments as
means Of bringing the trust officials
into submission.
It transpires that the dispute be-
tween the department of Justice and
the Harvester trust has become ex-
ceedingly rancorous. A good deal Of
animosity has been displayed on both
sides. The attorney general is repre-
sented as having been particularly
angered by an alleged attempt Of the
Harvester officials to influence the de-
partment to drop certain allegations
against the trust.
It u stated powerful political infiu-
snces have been exerted in the effort
to shape the brief in the case which
ls being prepared by Assistant Attor-
ney General Grosvenor.
McRsynoids 9corns Political Influence.
The attorney general Indignantly re-
fused to listen to these propositions,
which emanated synchronously from
several different sources. He is re-
ported to have observed that II such
practices were to characterize the de-
tense he would be inclined to regard
criminal prosecutions entirely justified.
Administration officials say the OUT
burst Of hostility against the depart
ment il accounted for by the fact that
combinations in process Of dissolution
find the McReynolds' policy a bitter
pill to swallow. It is opined many trust
officials now regret that they did not
hasten voluntary dissolution under the
wickersham policy Of permitting sep
aration without disturbing control, as
in the Oil and tobacco trust cases.
II the government wins its suit
against the harvester and steel trusts
the attorney general will fight for de-
crees which will prevent the stockhold-
ers Of the parent companies from con-
trolling the divorced component parts.
May Reopen Old Trust Cases.
Already the administration is claim
ing that the application Of the Nc
Reynolds policy is procuring the most
effective enforcement Of the Sherman
law in the twenty-five years Of its
existence. It even is not unlikely that
the attorney general will move for
reopening of the oil and tobacco trust
cases with q view to effecting new dis
solutions on the McReynolds plan.
It was stated at the department that
no steps are being taken toward new
criminal prosecution Of the Chicago
packers. The attorney generel will ac-
cept the acquittal of the packers last
year as final disposition Of this matter
unless new evidence Of an agreement
In restraint Of trade should be pre-
vented, to him. SO far no such COM
plant has been laid before the de-
partment.
Mr.. McReynolds, however, does want
70 know the details Of the dissolution
Of the National Packing Company, the
concern which it was alleged formed
HE nucleus OF the beef trust. The in
ference IS that If Mr.. McReynolds is
dissatisfied with the dissolution he may
demand change in the plan.