Evening star., 1942-09-16

accomplished so ~
eff1ciently that David Lawrence.
American plane manufacturers have
not suffered from any shortage of
aluminium and will not encounter
amy so far as at present foreseen.
The job of providing aluminium
making capacity has fallen primarily
to the Aluminium Co. of America,
which will produce either in its own
plants or in plants it operates for
the Government, about 100000, 900
pounds or nearly 80 per cent Of the
whole program. Alcoa being the
principal company with experience,
the Government has relied on it to
carry the burden of aluminium
making.
In the middle of such an out
standing job-the like of which has
not been paralleled by any other
business-President Roosevelt has
ordered the Attorney General to do
everything in his power through the
antitrust laws to dissolve the
Aluminium Co.
Aluminium Co. officials can't un-
derstand this kind of warfare and
they have issued a statement declar-
ing that while they will cooperate
patriotically with the Government,
they do not think it is in the public
interest for the time of the officials
to be taken up with lawsuit which
has for its objective the destruction
of the company.
Cites Lengthy Trial.
1--WE do not question for moment,
saws the Aluminium Co. statement"
the legal right of the Antitrust Dl-
vision of the Justice Department to
sppeal to the United States Supreme
Court. But we do seriously question
the Antitrust Divisions good judg-
ment in appealing under the ex-
traordinary world circumstances now
existing.
1--WE sincerely believe that the in
terests of the country would best
have been served by accepting the
result of what has been one of the
most thoroughly tried cases IN the
history Of the world and leaving
Alcoa to devote its every thought
and effort to making aluminium.
THE aluminium case covered f1Ve
wears and three months from the
filing of the petition to the final
decree. From 153 witnesses, Judge
CafeN of the United States Dis
trict Court heard testimony that
filled 41722 pages. He examined
1900 pages of exhibits and l,5oo
nages of sworn answers to interrog-
atories. Alcoa's entire. corporate
life for more than half century
was laid before the court.
"In his decision, Judge Carey
ruled that the Justice Department
had not sustained any of its charges
of conspiracy or monopollzatlon. he
also ruled that Alcoa was not violat-
ing the antitrust laws, that it was
a fair competitor and constructive
influence in the aluminium industry.
In concluding his decision, he SAID
that it would be greatly contrary
to the public interest to dissolve
the Aluminium Co. Of America.
During the entire course OF this
longest trial of all time, the key
men OF the Aluminium Co. were
forced to do two jobs: they had to
defend the company and themselves
and at the same time make alumni
mum. Depsite this latest action OF
the Antitrust Division, the COM
pany pledges the American people
that it will do everything in its
power to prevent further litigation
from interfering with the produc-
ton of aluminium so badly needed
to win this war-an air war-fought
with planes made 80 per cent OF
aluminium" .
Decision for President.
It will be contended, of course,
bv the Justice Department that
It will not take the time of the
company executives but only that OF
their counsel to handle the appeal
because the issues have been tried
in the lower court But this, on
the other hand, ignores the fact
that q company which has the
sword of Damocles hanging over
It's head cannot be as efficient as
one that is free from worry. The
officers and key executives will con-
suit with counsel and there will
necessarily have to be thought given
to what alternatives must be pre-
pared for in the event that the
Supreme Court reverses the lower
court.
Naturally the Justice Department