The Forrest City times., 1899-02-03
M'KINLEY'S BLINDNESS.
The President Wasting Time over
His Warning Subo dinates in
the War Department..

The president of the United States 10
reported deeply chagrined at the savage
and, as he deems it, unseemly conduct of
one of his subordinates, who, under the
protection of his extraordinary COM
L-ission of inquiry into the conduct OF
the war. levels terrible shaft at the
major general commanding the army.
That is, at the major general command
ing the army SO far as it is possible un-
der our plan to have major general in
command. The majors small boys are
extensively unruly at times. having, ap-
parently, no fear of his magisterial
sword. But, aside from the infraction
of good manners and military disci-
pline, whether Eagan calls Miles liar
or Miles disturbs the serenity of the
commissary general Is matter of small
Importance to the people Of the United
States. They do not suffer in purse or
prison by the un-Turveydrop-like de-
pertinent of these distinguished mill
tary servants.
II the president will turn his atten-
tion for a moment from the unseemly
conduct of his shoulder-strapped sub
ordinates he will be deeply and properly
concerned about a matter Of vast i'm
portance to the people whose chief mag
istrate he is. Not a day passes that in
formation is not conveyed of the forma-
tion of new trusts, new combinationsi in
restraint of trade, fresh violations OF
the antitrust law spread upon the stat
utes of the United States, a law which
the president has not taken q single
step toward executing, though the en-
forcement of law is an obligation of the
chief magistracy. 1t is true that the at
torney-general Of the United States
does not meet opprobrious language
from an assistant or from anyone of the
district attorneys throughout the whole
domain of the republic. The depart
ment calls for no executive notice be-
cause of the unpleasant, riotous conduct
of any of its employees, but II the presi-
dent had the welfare Of the republic at
heart and If he were thoroughly imbued
with the sanctity OF an oath, his obliga-
ton hereunder to enforce the laws, he
would be more deeply grieyed at the
state of affairs in the law department
than he is reported to be at the conten-
tons of officers in the war department
Not a district attorney of the United
States lifts hand against daily, open
and fragrant violation of the Sherman
law. Encouraged by this nonaction,
which, manifestly, Is the result of an
understanding at headquarters, combi-
nations in restraint Of trade increase
in number until 1t might seem as
though all the commercial activities Of
the republic were taking that direction.
Why is the president, who appears deep
ly distressed at the chickering's Of two
general officers. undisturbed by the fact
that statute of the United States
which he is bound to enforce is regarded
with contempt?
We witness occasional activity of 4
United States court in condemning, and
properly condemning, the Illicit con-
luct of some violator Of the postal laws.
but there is not anywhere in the coun-
try United States judge who, instruct
ing grand jury, draws its attention to
TIE far more fragrant and dangerous ac-
tivities of moneyed men, who snap their
fingers at United States statutes and go
about their business in serene conf
dence that, lawless as they may become.
they are not in danger of being called to
account by the enginery of justice in
the United States, an enginery para
lyzed by the very man, chief magistrate
of the republic, whose constant care it
should be to see that it suffer not detri-
ment, but work ceaselessly for Justices
sake in the impartial administration OF
the law.
When will Maj. Mckinley, ceasing to
weep at the comparatively insignificant
breaches of politeness shown by mill
tary officers. address himself to what
may prove the herculean task of grap-
ping in the name of the people with the
trusts that oppress them?-Chicago
Chronicle.