Red Cars’ Demise

Stan Schwarz (letter, Nov. 24) claims General Motors, Standard Oil, et al., were “only” convicted of “attempting to monopolize sales of supplies used by the bus lines they controlled.” He maintains that they were thus not guilty of “conspiring to monopolize ground transportation.” In actual fact, Standard Oil, Firestone, et al. were found guilty in federal court of “criminal conspiracy to monopolize ground transportation,” case No. 186 F2d 562, 1949. The actions of the conspirators are documented in the transcripts of the 1974 Kennedy-Collier hearings on antitrust violations.

Certainly, we like the convenience of our own cars. But in fact, a monolith did do in the Red Cars, without our help or consent.

DICK THOMPSON

Lancaster