The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-07-17
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

n ~ J. - - ~ n ~ -
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, July ID, 1902.
While President Roosevelts state
ment in regard to trusts, made at
PlttsDurg, and the subsequent an
nouncement that Representative
Littlefield of Maine had been selected
to draft bill which would provide for
federal supervision ard control of
these great monopolies, have received
wide publicity in the press of the
country, they are not regarded seri-
ously by the leading democrats in
Washington. Representative Griggs
of Georgia, who returned from his
home this week, pointed out, when |
asked him his opinion of Mr.. Roose-
velts announcement, that the fact
that the President had waited until
after the adjournment Of Congress to
expound his views on the subject
should be sufficient proof that he was
not sincere In his protestatons and
that they were made for political pur-
poses only. "Had Mr.. Roosevelt
felt so strongly on the subject of the
trusts as he now pretends," he said,
cit would have been his duty to pre-.
sent his views to Congress and not
wait until week after Congress had
adjourned and then present them to,
and for their effect on, the people" !"
In fact, the concensus of opinion is
that the President is simply making
an effort to placate that element of
the party in the west which has de-
nanded tariff reduction as a remedy
for the growing tyranny of the trusts.
Representative Swanson of Virginia
characterizes the Presidents utter
ances as Il "sham and fraud and
points out that even for the purpose
of befrlending Cuba, which Mr.
Roosevelt declared was essential to
the honor of the country, he was un-
willing to use his influence to secure
the passage of the Cuban reciprocity
bill passed by the House and which
would have placed the Sugar Trust in
competition with the foreign refners
to the great advantage of the Ameri-
can consumers. Mr.. Roosevelt knew
that he would have the unqualified
support of the democrats in the Sem
ate as well as of a number of the sena-
tors of his own party but he was un-
willing to take the first step which
would antagonize the Sugar Trust
and kindred interests. "Can anyone,
after this proceeding, place any faith
in Mr.. Roosevelt's protestations of
antagonism to the trusts?," added Mr..
Swanson.
While doubling the Presidents
sincerity, the democratic leaders con-
sidel that, In his desire for personal
popularity and in his efforts to make
certain his own nomination, he has
materially aided them in their efforts
to secure great democratic victory
IN 1904, if not in the fall elections.
His utterances have brought into
that prominence which the democrats
have been striving to give it, the
enormity of the trust evil and not
only is it certain that there is no
chance for securing from the republi-
cans In Congress, during the short
session, antitrust legislation which
will satisfy the public, but it is equally
certain that a disappointed public
will turn to the democratic party for
relief in 1904. By his selection of
Mr.. Littlefeld of Maine, Mr.. Roose-
welt has shown disposition to ignore
the leaders of his party in Congress,
but no one who understands the
situation believes for a moment that
he can either control the House with
out the help of those leaders or that
he can produce any effect upon the
trust controlled republicans in the
| Senate.
There is growing belief in Wash,
ington that Senator Hanna is looking
to his fences with an eye on the next
presidential nomination and some
there are, who suggest that even Mr..
Roosevelt's attack upon the trusts is
a trap into which he has been led by
his willy friend from Ohio. The policy
of those who support the Senator
from Ohio is to utter no word in
public, derogatory to the President
in fact to kill his chances with damn.
ing praise. They will say that he is
"frank, courageous, good republi
can, fearless-possbly a little toe
much so, it is true-impulsive-to a
fault it may be-but still admirable
ETC." But IN private, to the grea
financial interests whose treasures