FRANK B. KELLOGG NOT A "TRUST BUSTER"
Frank B. Kellogg Not a "Trust Buster" SOME time ago Mr. George S. Loftus delivered an address at the State University of Minnesota, in which he discussed the control of state politics by the...
...It may be suggested that Mr...
...Kellogg has announced his candidacy to succeed Moses E. Clapp in the United States Senate...
...Whether the fee received by him for his argument before the supreme court on May 5, reported to be $10,000, reflected any influence on his zeal in the prosecution of Hill on the preceding day, is a matter of speculation...
...The Book of Minnesotans for 1907, consisting of short sketches of prominent men and published with the approval of those concerned, states that Mr...
...As to the ability and agility of Mr...
...The names Rockefeller and Rogers appear in each list...
...I do not know, of course, how much he made while different roads were being fought by syndicates in which he was general counsel, but whether his fees were large or small, I do know that the investigation of the Sundberg committee of the senate demonstrated that the man who had the management of buying, consolidating and organizing the Great Western railroad, manipulated it successfully into bankruptcy...
...But the Great Western was not a steel trust and, therefore, its busting cannot be credited to Mr...
...These are controlling names in any directorate...
...Kellogg to prosecute and defend the same and similar corporations simultaneously, a very good illustration was given by him in May, 1907...
...Other illustrations could be furnished if more testimony were needed to prove that it is a misnomer to call Mr...
...I can not, without making this letter too long, discuss the other points raised in your editorial, but I shall write you fully on each point at an early date...
...Loftus did with reference to Kellogg in a letter to the editor, which is given below...
...The St...
...If he busts the Standard Oil, it will be, as in the case of the Paper Trust, in a way it enjoys being busted...
...Kellogg is "general counsel of Chicago and Great Western railway, Minnesota Iron company, Olver Iron Mining company, and of all the companies in which the United States Steel corporation is interested...
...On the 3d and 4th of the month he appeared for the government in an interstate commerce hearing in Chicago in prosecution of the Hill railroads on the ground of their merger...
...Kellogg is more of a "trust booster" than a "trust buster," and I justify this statement by these facts: Moody's Manual of Corporation and Poor's Manual also, show that the Standard Oil and Steel trust have directors in common...
...Kellogg's success in this case...
...As a matter of fact this great trust does not fear Mr...
...Kellogg's zeal as a reformer...
...Paul he appeared before the supreme court of Minnesota, defending Mr...
...Loftus' speech and challenged him to justify his statements...
...This Mr...
...I have said and now leiterate that Mr...
...Kellogg acquired at least a part of his wealth in organizing and reorganizing and stock-watering railroads and his experience along that line is a handicap to his zeal in prosecuting men for a violation of the anti-trust act...
...Kellogg was appointed to bust the Standard Oil, he was general counsel for these steel trust companies...
...Kellogg or the prosecution conducted by him...
...His great reputation rests on his work as a corporation lawyer and the advertising enjoyed by his cases in newspapers and magazines controlled by the Steel Trust and allied interests...
...The same authorities list the Duluth & Iron Range and the Duluth, Missabe & Northern as subsidiary companies of the steel trust...
...Kellogg a "trust buster" and a farce when he appears before the public footlights as a reformer...
...Kellogg would not hurt anybody seriously...
...He referred to the supremacy of James J. Hill, and cited Frank B. Kellogg as an example of "trust booster" in the guise of a "trust buster...
...George S. Loftus delivered an address at the State University of Minnesota, in which he discussed the control of state politics by the "System...
...Immediately following his cross-examination of Mr...
...Kellogg must have been influenced by years of successful association and environment as a corporation lawyer...
...they also show that when Mr...
...IN your comment on statements attributed to me, criticising Frank B. Kellogg and political conditions in this state, you demand proof and very properly insist that if I fail to justify my statements I "take chances on being classed as an undesirable citizen...
...Loftus' statements stand unchallenged...
...The Standard Oil is not as strong as the United States government, and if Mr...
...Kellogg busted the Paper Trust...
...I refer you to your business end and the debit side of your ledger for evidence of Mr...
...Paul Dispatch commented editorially on Mr...
...It is significant that no attempt has thus far been made to reply to the letter, and the editors of the paper have offered no further criticism of Loftus...
...On the following day in St...
...Hill in his attempt to issue sixty million of Great Northern stock without the consent of the state authorities...
...Rockefeller and other leading officials the stock of the company advanced, so confident was Wall street and the owners of the property that Mr...
...Kellogg had in good faith used the full power of the government with proper zeal against the Standard Oil and its guilty officials, they would be on their knees to him asking clemency and surrendering the control of the Oil industry...
Vol. 1 • August 1909 • No. 34
