When US President Theodore Roosevelt decided to move against the Northern Securities Company he was challenging none other than the powerful JP Morgan. Morgan had put together what seemed to be one of the toughest to break railroad trusts of its day. And, pitting the US Government against JP Morgan, seemed to Morgan an insult of the worst kind. Nevertheless, Roosevelt's Attorney General, Philander Knox was put in charge of the suit against Morgan and his friends. Morgan was so upset that he went to the White House to set the "new president straight".Roosevelt was not impressed with the cigar smoking "Jupiter" as he was called.
The case, an alleged violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 went all the way to the US Supreme Court. The Federal government won the case in 1904. Roosevelt's only disappointment was that one of his Court appointees, the great Oliver Wendell Holmes voted with the minority.
President Roosevelt reacted to the creation of the Northern Securities Company by suing them. He wanted the company to be dissolved and argued that it violated antitrust laws.
44 with the Sherman Antitrust Act Source: squaredeal.com
In 1904 President Roosevelt got the supreme court to rule that Northern securities company was a monopoly.
Roosevelt argued that northern securities used unfair business pratices in violation of the sherman act
In 1904, President Roosevelt got the supreme court to rule that Northern securities company was a monopoly.
In 1902, Roosevelt ordered the Attorney General to bring a law suit against the Northern Securities Company. Roosevelt believed that the company was violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
The TrustBuster
Roosevelt ordered his attorney to finn a law suite against northern securities.
Theodore Roosevelt
Yes, the railroad holding company's (Northern Securities Co) stock transactions were in restraint of interstate commerce,and came within guidelines of the Sherman Anti Trust Act. The Northern Securities Co vs The United States in which the Supreme Court found in favor of the government was a vindication of Roosevelt's actions. This case also rejuvenated the Sherman Anti Trust Act.- tuffy
Northern Securities Company
The railroad industry is the most closely related to the Northern Securities case.