Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1907 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

Unde Sam’s Trust Hunter, liilton D. Purdy, assistant to Attorney General Bonaparte Is the chief trust punter of the Halted States depart mant of justice. It was Mr. Purdy v?l» suggested the policy now being employed against the trusts. His plan U to hit the combines by means of the Issuance of Injunctions, followed by the appointment of receivers. The tobacco trust and the powder trust were the first of the big combinations to be

attacked In this way. If the plan proves successful It is probable that the Standard Oil company will be attacked next This new Hue of warfare will be pursued against corporations violating the Sherman law. Hitherto these concerns have felt little alarm over the government’s activity, because the infliction of fines was all that the government could obtain, aud fines, while inconvenient, were not fatal. Injunctions and receiverships will be an entirely different matter. The mere threat of such a thing is likely to cause great uneasiness among the trusts, bat it is not a mere threat, but the definite determination of a programme. Both Mr. Bonaparte and Mr. Purdy believe that this line of action will do more to enforce the Sherman law than anything that has been devised or any new law that could be pnt upon the statute books. Mr. Purdy is a native of Ohio, but now hails from Minnesota. He Is for-ty-one years old and has been assistant to the attorney general of the United States for the past two years.

Cause and Effect. “One Fourth of July,” said Senator Beveridge in the course of an after dinner speech In Indianapolis, “two men got into an argument about the Liberty bell in Philadelphia. “’lt is admitted,’ said the first, ‘that the man who rang this bell to proclaim liberty throughout the land dropped dead for joy.’ “ ‘But,’ said the other, ‘did you ever actually hear of such a thing as a man being killed by Joy?’ “ ‘Well,’ was the reply, ‘I once heard of a chap who was found dead on his mother-in-law’s grave.’ ” Miss Beaks, Panama Invsstigator. The wide experience of Miss Gertrude Beeks, who was appointed special commissioner by Secretary Taft to investigate conditions surrounding the Panama canal employees, admirably qualifies her for the task. For many years Miss Beeks has been a student along just such lines. Miss Beeks Is secretary of the welfare department of the Civic federation, a position won after long delving In the fields of sociology, sanitary science and Industrial questions. She Is favorably known In the labor world

and Is the only woman who has achieved the distinction of honorary membership ’ln the International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen. Beginning her business career as • stenographer. Miss Beeks early became interested in the well being of her fellow workers and ten years ago was president of the National Asso elation of Women Stenographers. At that time She was manager of the welfare department of the International Harvester company, Chicago, her supervision extending over 15,000 employees. Since then her social studies have taken her to most of the large manufacturing centers. In Panama she will look into the boosing, food and recreations of the workers as well as their physical and moral welfare. Her findings and recommendations on these matters wID furnish the basis for future action ts the secretary of war.

MILTON D. PURDY.

MISS GERTRUDE BEEKS.