The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-10
and the party and good men it con-
tains suffered because Of their policy
and tactics.
ITS DEFINED.

ITS ATTITUDE DEFINED.
The usually well inrormea and r,
liable Washington correspondent {
the Minneapolis Journal has sent
dispatch to his paper which may be a,
cepted as defining the attitude of tn
administration toward the trusts. H
makes it appear that while the admir-
istration is not disposed to make
speciality of Investigating the effect O
trusts, or any particular one of thes
combinations, upon the public, it viii
be found ready to further the effort
of any individual or community in re
sisting the encroachment of corpora
lions on the rights and interests of tn,
people. Trade combinations are no
to be pursued simply because they are
combinations unless it be shown tina,
they plainly violate the law or ignore
good morals.
If at the present time, says the cor
respondent, any citizen or group Of
citizens have a reasonable complaint
to make of wrong suffered at the
hands of the Northern Securities com
pany, it will undoubtedly be entertain
ed and considered at the department
of justice; but the department is not
beating the bushes in search of trou-
BILE, or playing the volunteer detec-
tive, or otherwise making an effort
to bring suit for the sake of it's dra-
matte effect, and regardless of the
question of whether the result will be
a vindication of the soundness of the
law. Or a humiliating proof of it's weak
ness when confronted with real con-
ditions. The greater probability is
that, in trust matters the president
will press upon congress persistently
the ideas set forth in his message, till
that body either produces such legis-
lation as will satisfy his demands, or
gives the country sufficient excuse for
not doing SO. If meanwhile aggrieved
parties can make out what seems to
be a fair case against any Industrial
combination under the existing law,
the attorney general will proceed
against the alleged offenders.
If it shall appear later that the
trusts have been tampering in any i'm
proper manner with the legislative
machinery they will hear from the
president with some of his old fashion
ed candor of speech and directness of
action. Contingencies are possible in
which he might "call N out in
meeting" Some of the emissaries of
trusts who visited Washington for the
purpose of heading Off reflections on
their affairs in the message or de-
partmental reports received cold com-
fort for their pains. That they are
likely to get something worse if they
presume, that because the president
refused to be goaded into indiscrimi-
nate assaults on combinations, good
and bad, has been made very apparent
even to the most obtuse and bold.
OF the presidents disposition to act
fairly and honestly The Gazette, nor
no one else has any doubt, although
it may be urged that he may find him
self hampered in this regard because
of the fact that for attorney general
he has the man who drew the charter
for the United States Steel corpora
ton and is noted for his utilization
with trusts prior to his appointment
to his present position. While this
might be unfortunate so far as some
men are concerned, were they in the
presidents place, but with Roosevelt
it will prove different. He may be
relied upon to speedily make a va
cancy in the Office of the attorney gen
eral If the man who now fills it should
at any time give him cause to doubt
his sincerity or willingness to enforce
the laws properly and without fear
or favor. 1t is very natural that some
lack of confidence in the judicial de-
partment of the United States should
find place just now, but judgment
should be suspended until the time
comes when action must replace |
words and promises. Then if cause |
OF complaint exists that complaint
should find expression in no uncer-
tain words and it is safe to say that it
will not fall on deaf ears, for the pres ,
ident is with the people, in this issue
and he will see to it that their rights
are maintained as far as lies within
his power to enfore them. He is not
so fearful of giving offense to those
whose interests may lie in the oppo-
site direction that he will permit will
full violations of the law for the mere
sake of conciliating those who may
be capable of injuring him political
ly. He is not that kind of a president.