The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-16
CALL 1T A TRUST
Federal Suit to Dissolve Inter-
national Harvester Co.
Farmers and Implement Men
From Over Kansas at X. C..

Kansas City, April 16.-Hearings in
the federal suit to dissolve the Inter
national Harvester company as a COM
bination in restraint of trade. were
opened here today before Robert S.
Taylor of Duluth, MINI, special ex-
amlner. Edwin P. Grosvenir, special
assistant to Attorney General Mercy
nolds and Joseph r. Darling of the
department of justice represented the
government. Witnesses to the number
of $50, most of them farmers and i'm
plement dealers from Missouri, Kan
sas, Colorado and Oklahoma, were
summoned.
The dissolution SUIT was filed year
ago in st. Paul. Since then hearings
have been concluded in number of
cities, the last one closing in Wichita,
Kan, March 20. In addition to the
dissolution of the company the suit
asked that receiver be appointed to
wind UP its affairs, if in the opinion
of the court it be impossible otherwise
so to rehabilitate the corporation that
its business would square with the
antitrust laws.
Following the Kansas City hearing
testimony will be taken at Sioux Falls,
S. D., st. Paul, Cincinnati, Buffalo and
Chicago. 1t is expected the case will
be completed about the middle of June
and the evidence submitted in October
to the federal court in st. Paul for de-
cision as to whether the company
antitrust law.
First Evidence in Case
That he could recall no reason CIV
en- him for the closing up of the In
ternational Harvester company's busi-
ness with W. H. Green, an implement
dealer of Creighton, Neb., was the
statement made by c. l.. James of Ok
day of the Kansas City hearing of the
government antitrust suit against the
International Harvester company.
Green testified at a former hearing
of the suit in st. Louis that he was
forced out of business by the Inter
national company because he would
not restrict his business to their line
of goods. Mr.. James is manager of the
Oklahoma Moline Plow company and
formerly was block man employed
by the International company in the
Nebraska district. In response to
questions by Edwin P. Grosvenor, spe-
cial ssistant to James G.. McReynolds,
attorney general James testified that
he had been sent by the International
Harvester company to close out the
business of Green because he was slow
pay.
"Was there not usually a reason
given when you were sent out to close
put dealer?' asked Mr.. Grosvenor.
There usually was"
Merely Acted Upon Orders.
But you can recall none in this
,ase?"
Il merely acted upon ORDERS" James
replied.
Lewis p Yount, of Kansas City,
manager of the Oliver Chilled Plow
company in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kan
;as and Nebraska, another witness,
estified in response to questions by
Judge William D. McHugh, of counsel
or the International Harvester COM |
oany. that he had had business deal |
ng with Green and had found him |
slow pay"
Both James and Yount and also
Charles S. Shaker. of Kansas City, man |
lger of the Sech1er-Janesville Imple- |
nent company and w. E. Manning, of |
Kansas City, manager of the Kansas
Moline Plow company, testified that |
hey had found competition with the |
Harvester company in |
heir district to be ''open and fair"
Mr.. Grosvenor objected to their testi-
nony as incompetent on the grounds |
hat their lines of implements in which
hey dealt were not binders and NOW
RS, the speciality of the Harvester
ompany.
Mr. Manning testified that his COM
ANY had recently taken on a line of
inders and mowers and had found
in those lines to be fair
nd normal