SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, BEEF TRUST, THE KISS, AND SAUTELLE CIRCUS

 

Philander C. Knox.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, April 25, 1902.

SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

Mr. Knox Says Bill For an Injunction Will Be Framed.

AGAINST INTERSTATE TRADE.

Mr. Day in the East and Mr. Bethea at Chicago Were Instructed to Gather Proofs of Alleged Combination of Meat Dealers—Packers Protest Innocence.

   Washington, April 25.—Attorney General Knox made the following statement regarding the so-called beef trust:

   "On April 4 this department directed W. A. Day, Esq., of Washington, in his capacity as special assistant to the attorney general, to examine into, as far as practicable, the public charges to the effect that a combination of the large meat dealers of the United States, had been effected, contrary to the provisions of the laws of the United States. This preliminary examination resulted in instructions to Mr. Day and Mr. Bethea, United States attorney at Chicago, on April 7, to prosecute simultaneously in Chicago and the East a more particular examination into the allegations and proofs alleged to exist in support thereof.

   "From their reports I am satisfied that sufficient evidence is in hand upon which bills in equity for an injunction can be framed to restrain the combination mentioned from further proceeding under their agreement, which clearly appears to be in restraint of interstate trade. I have, therefore, in compliance with the law which provides: 'It shall be the duty of the several district attorneys of the United States in their respective districts, under the direction of the attorney general, to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and restrain violations of this act,' directed the district attorney at Chicago to prepare a bill for an injunction against the corporations and persons who are parties to the combination mentioned, to be filed in the United States circuit court for the Northern district of Illinois."

 

REFUSED TO MAKE A STATEMENT

Representatives of Packers Said They Welcomed an Investigation.

   Chicago, April 25.—United States District Attorney Bethea refused to make any statement about the action that he will take under Attorney General Knox's instructions.

   "I have absolutely nothing to say," he said when the Washington announcement was read to him.

   A representative of the packing houses said that the packers welcomed a full investigation of their relations with each other and the conduct of their business. In their behalf he entered a denial to all charges that they are in combination to control prices or restrain trade.

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

THE BEEF TRUST.

Attorney General Submits His Evidence to the President.

THINKS HE HAS A GOOD CASE.

Commended for His Prompt Action—Six Firms to Become the Defendants in Individual Actions—Belief That the Combine Can be Broken Up.

   Washington. April 5.—Before making his announcement last night that he would institute proceedings against the so-called beef trust, Attorney General Knox submitted to the president the results of the investigation made by Judge W. A. Day. of Washington, and S. H. Bethea, United States district attorney at Chicago. From the evidence obtained Mr. Knox was satisfied that he could make out a good case against the combine, and asked the president's approval before taking this course. The president displayed great interest in the reports of Judge Day and Mr. Bothea, and after going over them congratulated the attorney general on his promptness in making the inquiry, and his success in obtaining so much valuable material in so short a time. He gave his hearty approval to the attorney general's proposition, leaving it to that officer's judgment the form in which the prosecution should be undertaken.

   The suits, which will be directed against the individual members of the alleged combine, will be filed in the United States Circuit court at Chicago just as soon as the papers can be prepared. Six firms have been named as the ones likely to be the defendants in the case: Armour & Co., Swift & Co., G. H. Hammond & Co., The Cudahy Packing Co., Nelson & Morris Co., and Sulzberger & Schwarschild.

   The department will push the proceedings as rapidly as the machinery of the courts will allow, in order to afford the desired relief as soon as possible. From the positive character of the evidence already in hand, and the ease with which it was obtained, the attorney- general is confident of being able to break up the combine. Mr. Bethea was occupied only two weeks in gathering the testimony upon which Mr. Knox based his decision to bring the suits. If the contention of the department is upheld by the courts, it means the complete dissolution of the combine and that hereafter the packers must not independently or go out of business.

 

PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIAL.

The Kiss.

   A Kentucky jury gave a verdict of one cent damages against a young man who kissed a girl without her consent, while a Virginia court compelled a youth of that state to pay $1,000 for a similar offense. Here is something radically wrong. We are not prepared to say that the price is too high in Virginia, but it is certainly ridiculously low in Kentucky. No one will attempt to say that there is any such vast difference in the charms of the Kentucky and the Virginia girl. The kissableness of both is fully and freely admitted, and that, too, without the disparagement or the undue praise of either. We must look elsewhere for the cause of this unjust and flagrant discrimination. It evidently lies in the difference in the judicial systems prevailing in the different commonwealths and suggests the necessity of uniform state laws on osculation as well as banking, bankruptcy and divorce.

 

Sig. Sautelle.

THE SAUTELLE SHOW.

All Preparations Now Made for the Great Summer Trip of 1902.

WILL BE A RAILROAD SHOW THIS YEAR.

Larger Tents, Greater Ring Capacity—A Whole Brand New Menagerie, including the Baby Monkey—New Cages for the Animals—New Cars for Transportation—The Cost of the Elaborate Outfit—How Sig. Sautelle's Show has Grown—Exhibitions in Homer and Cortland May 2 and 3.

   Sig. Sautelle's big railroad show is nearly in readiness to begin the season of 1902, which marks the beginning of this celebrated showman's career at the head of a first-class and thoroughly up-to-date railroad show. Sig. has had long years of experience in the show business and has made a record for himself as a showman though he has previously visited the various sections of this country with his outfit by means of overland journeys with wagons.

   From year to year, however, this showman has steadily added to his equipment until now it has outgrown such means of transportation, and henceforth it will be a railroad show in every sense of the term. A large number of fine wild animals have been added, a much larger ring capacity will be used, more than double the amount of canvas will be spread, more trained animals will be exhibited, making in all, one of the best shows that has ever been put out upon the road.

Preparing the Equipment.

   A large force of men has been at work for several months past at the winter quarters near the old Tisdale mills between Cortland and Homer, and at the junction in Cortland where the new cars have been under process of arrangement for transporting the equipment. There are fourteen of these cars prepared for the show and they will present a first-class appearance when Sig. starts out from Cortland after the third of May. The brilliant array of cages, dens, tableaux, calliope, band wagons and chariots is now at winter quarters where they are being placed in showing condition. Everything is being put up in the most presentable shape for the great opening days which will be on May 2 in Homer and on May 3 in Cortland at the fair grounds.

The Menagerie.

   Perhaps the greatest innovation in connection with the change that Sautelle is making in running a railroad show is the addition of the large number of wild beasts of all kinds that have been collected from every quarter of the globe. A portion of these animals are now at the winter quarters, while a large number are being shipped from New York, having been ordered from a shipload that has recently been received at the metropolis. These will include several large elephants and camels, besides other large and costly animals. At the winter quarters there are now in readiness for the road, a large elephant, seven fine specimens of African tigers, a cinnamon bear, a Siberian wolfe, a pair of puma, two pairs of hyenas, a pair of deer, a den of three large and fierce looking lions, a Hong Konga deer, a pair of kangaroos, and an East India hog deer. Besides these are the monkeys, rat eaters, Guinea pig, cockatoos, and many other rare and beautiful birds [sic].

The Baby Monkey.

   Perhaps the most pleasing part of the whole show in the minds of the children will be the baby monkey that was born the 15th of last March. Baby monkey has all the attention shown him that any infant could desire and his parents are seemingly as proud of the youngster as though he had a chance to some time be elected to congress.

Cost of the Equipment.

   In all, the cost of the equipment will be more than $40,000. The twenty-five new cages, the five tableaux, the $3,000 ticket wagon, gorgeously embellished with twelve gold leaf figures, the chariots, the gaily trimmed band wagons together with the 150 horses will make a parade that will be worth coming miles to see. Aside from the forty wagons there will be a large 16-foot organ in the parade. This instrument was made in London and cost $2,250. It is said that it will make more music than a whole band. Then there is the steam calliope which is an instrument constructed like an organ in which steam is used instead of wind for producing the notes. This cost $15,000.

Sig. Hard at Work.

   Sig. Sautelle was seen by a Standard reporter at the winter quarters yesterday. At that time he was fitted out with a blue frock and overalls to match and was busily engaged in putting gold leaf on a figure for the ticket wagon and, by the way, Sautelle has made his show what it is by his own exertions, ably assisted by the help of Mrs. Sautelle, who always takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the show. He laughed heartily when the reporter stepped up to him and asked where Sig. Sautelle could be found. He said that his name was Sautelle, and related in a genial way his experience with a professional man who recently asked him the same question and who would not be changed in his belief that he was being bluffed. "My wife and I," said the showman, "started on the road in the show business with a blind horse and an $8 wagon, showing around at country school houses, and from this small beginning we have kept increasing the business until it is as you now see it." Sautelle takes great pride in the equipment that he now has, and well he may for it is a fine one.

Waterproof Tents.

   The canvass to be used is all waterproof. The main tent is a 140-foot round top with two 50-foot poles. The other tent is a 70-foot round top with three 40-foot poles. The side show will be given under a 60-foot canvas with two 30-foot poles.

   Every one within a radius of many miles of Cortland will be anxious to see Sig. Sautelle's new and big railroad show as it will be presented at the fair grounds on Saturday, May 3. Everything is new, fresh and thoroughly up to date and Sig.'s prices, 25 cents, are within reach of everybody.

The Advertising Car.

   The advertising car, which is a model of neatness and convenience, started out yesterday morning at 9:22 for Binghamton and thence to Middletown. It is under the supervision of Mr. B. K. Wilber. In the car is an office, diningroom, work room and sleeping apartments. In fact, in it the men live, move and have their being.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The new [bicycle] sidepath machine has arrived from Oberlin, Ohio, and will be tried tomorrow.

   —Rev. N. W. Bates of West Bloomfield will preach at the Congregational church on Sunday morning and evening.

   —Owing to Dr. Santee's inability to leave the house the mayor has called the regular meeting of the board of health at his office this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —There will be a social at the Presbyterian church this evening at 8 o'clock. All members of the church and their friends are very cordially invited to be present. Music will be furnished by Miss Marsh and Mr. Carpenter.

   —New display advertisements today are—Bingham & Miller, Clothing, page 8; C. F. Thompson, strawberries, etc., page 5; Cortland. Fish & Oyster Co., Fish, page 5; S. Simmons, Clothing, page 6; New York store, Drygoods, millinery, etc., page 6; W. A. Case, Drygoods, page 6.

   —Yesterday was the greatest day so far at the local postoffice upon the fountain pen craze. On Tuesday noon 5,000 stamped envelopes were received at the office. They were all gone last night, most of them sold to the fountain pen endless chain writers.