Presidential Libel Case and Texas Antitrust Ruling
The President is endeavoring to carry out his threat to prosecute the editor of the New York World for libel. The first subpœnas that were issued for witnesses, however, in New York City, were quashed as illegal by Judge Ward of the United States Circuit Court. New subpœnas were issued and witnesses were examined, but nothing public was elicited. There seems to be a general consensus of opinion among the newspapers of the country that the action of the President is entirely unwarranted. The Supreme Court in a recent decision upholds the Texas anti-trust laws. The Waters Pierce Oil Company was fined, under the Texas court, $1,623,900. They appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Texas court. The decision of the Supreme Court declares that it has no right to interfere with the state laws.