In Campbell v. United States (1911), the Supreme Court ruled on a case involving the interpretation of a federal statute that regulated liquor sales in Alaska. The defendant, Campbell, was charged with selling alcohol without paying special taxes required by law. He argued that he had not violated any laws because his business was located within an incorporated town where such sales were permitted under local regulations and thus exempt from federal taxation. The government contended that despite being situated in an incorporated town, Campbell's establishment fell within "Indian country," as defined by federal law at the time - areas predominantly inhabited by Native Americans and subject to certain restrictions including those related to liquor sales. The Supreme Court sided with the government, ruling that even though Campbell's business operated within an incorporated town, it still fell under "Indian country" due to its location and population demographics. Therefore, it was subject to relevant federal statutes regulating liquor distribution in these regions regardless of local laws or exemptions.

In the dissenting opinion for Campbell v. United States, it was argued that the court erred in its interpretation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The dissenting justices believed that Congress did not intend to prohibit all contracts and combinations which might potentially restrain trade or commerce among states, but only those which unduly or unreasonably restrained such activities. They contended that a literal reading of the law would lead to absurd results and could even criminalize innocent business practices. Furthermore, they disagreed with majority's view on monopolies; while acknowledging their potential harm, they asserted that not all monopolies were illegal under this act unless they involved an unreasonable restraint on trade or an attempt to monopolize a part of interstate commerce. Therefore, according to them, whether a monopoly is legal should depend upon how it affects competition rather than simply its existence.