The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-18
BIG VICTORY
FOR THE A. P.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DECIDES
DOES NOT VIOLATE ANTI
TRUST LAW.
Case Was Investigated on Complaint
OF New York sun-President
Pleased.

WASHINGTON. March l7-Attor-
ney General Gregory in a letter ad-
dressed to James NJ Beck. counsel for
the Sun Printing and Publishing asso-
citation of New York. holds that there
Is no gDound for action by the federal
authorities against The Associated
Press under the antitrust law. The
attorney generals letter. dated March
IL. and made public today. follows:
4 have given consideration to the
complaint against The Associated
Press for alleged violation Of the fed
eral antitrust act presented TO my
predecessor by you as counsel for The
Sun Printing and Publishing associa-
ton.
No Violation.
Assuming that the kind OF service
in which The Associated Press is en-
gagged in interstate commerce 20 ques-
ton not free from doubt. I am never
theless Of the opinion that 10 Is no
violation Of the antitrust act for
group Of newspapers 10 form an as
sociatiOn to collect and distribute
news for their common benefit and to
that and to agree to furnish the news
collected by them only 20 each other
or to the association provided that no
attempt is made to prevent members
from purchasing or otherwise obtain
ing news from rival agencies. And
IL that is true the corollary must be
true. namely. that newspapers desir-
ing TO form and maintain such an or
ganization may determine who shall
be and who shall not be their asso-
GATES
As regards the first ground OF com
plant. assuming as ! do that the col
lection and distribution OF news
among the several states Is Interstate
trade OF commerce. any bylaw or
other regulation adopted BY The As
ISOLATED Press which would have the
effect Of preventing or seriously hind
ering its members from purchasing or
otherwise obtaining news from n rival
agency would be. 7 think. a restraint
upon interstate trade or commerce
and an attempt 10 monopolze. The
contention thst The Associated Press
has imposed such a regulation upon
its membership. or a. least has the
power to do 20. has n foundation JOB
Section Z Of Article VIII Of the by.
laws.
Not Been Exercised.
The president OF The Associated
Press states that this power reserved
In this bylaw has not been exercised.
Ny conclusion d. that this bylaw.
where % has been enforced or not.
should be- abroEatcd Z am advised by
The president ~ The Associated Press
that that will BE- done promptly.
20 am not prepared Co say. how.
ever. that This regulation has no rea-
Eonahle relation Co a legitimate ana
namely. preventing reproaeufafyas OF
rival agencies from coming into poe
sosaion before publication o. move
collected hy Tho Associated Press
nor am Z convinced that tho rerY.
lation seriously uindors member OF
The Associated Press desiring f1 Oh
tain the service OF another news
agency. on the contrary. my Informa.
fion bel that some of them do obtain
news from other aFencies. while az fnr
same time complying with thIs rcruia.
fi0n
If OIL perhaps unuereararv Tor fra
'o point out that m me Sun Printing
and Publishing Association BE- rot
satished With The conclusions g have
reiched o. may itself bring suit AGAINST
The Associated Press. either Tor a4
injunction or Tor damarcs. and There.
BY obtain judicial determination -a
To me merits Of ifs complaint
Frank Noyes. president OF the