The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-20
COMES TO A CLOSE.
fContinued from Pare One,

NOOuSAAucQ AIOIH rage Ou0.J
Instructions relative to this are ex-
pected from Washington today.
Charges that q close combine of
creamery men have been laid before
Mr.. Robertson by E. T. Peterson, pub
Usher of the Cimmaron Jacksonian, in
two kilograms, the second in response
to an inquiry for particulars of charges
made in a first message received last
night. The second message alleged
frequent meetings of Kansas buyers
OF butter-fat to fix prices for their
trade. These charges will be made the
subject Of local inquiry today.
Topeka commission men are being
examined today to discover If any
combination among them is operated
to increase prices of commodities Of
fered to retailers. Samuel E. Lux, w.
o. Anderson and Whiteker Brothers
have been summoned for examination.
Mr.. Robertson stated this morning
that he expected to adjourn the Tope-
ka hearing today.
This public inquiry" said he this
morning. lis but an entering wedge for
the governments actual work in trac-
ing evidences of combination in re-
straint Of trade. Thus far such evil
dence of an important character as has
been found leads outside of Kansas.
Our hearing here has been informative
to the public and should be beneficial to
those businesses which have engaged in
no irregular operations
THE five days investigation conduct
ed by me and ending today into the
question of increased prices Of the
necessaries OF life. and into the prob
able violations of the Sherman anti
trust law. have. in my judgment. been
productive Of much good.
Il have gone about this investigation
with a firm determination to be fair
and impartial. From it have learned,
as am sure many Of the public have
also, much of the methods Of conduct
Ing business heretofore unknown, and
In many cases misunderstood. I am
confident from the testimony gathered
that there is an unholy and unlawful
combine among sugar refiners and
their brokers' to hold up the people on
sugar. giving the European war condi-
| tons as their excuse.
This Is condition which cannot
De reached by me. All antitrust
cases are first authorized by the at
| torney general himself I have reason
| to believe that the attorney general OF
the United States will very soon strike
killing blow to this grasping COM
bine.
While there IL no absolutely posi-
i've testimony OF q combine among
mtllers to maintain the price Of flour
| stu there Is in the testimony the prob
| ability of an effort along that line.
The circumstances and clews suggest
ed by this investigation of a combine
among millers, win be followed out
and investigated secretly to the very
limit. and IL any criminal act Il estab-
| lished arrests and vigorous prosecu-
| tons will follow. 1t is my firm deter
mination to rid Kansas from any
combines which have for their object
the plunder of the people.
The fact vat this Iublic investi-
| cation in Topeka has adjourned does
| not mean that my efforts or the efforts
| Of the department along these lines
have ceased. We viii go on with our
secret investigations until the last
vestige of testimony ter-di g to show
such combines has been fully followed
| out, and the violators brought to jus
tice-"