The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-03
REPUBLICANISM AND TRUSTS.

REPUBLlCANlSM AND lRUS -.
Washington April as-rSiaf Corespondcnee When
the president made his famous Minneapolis speech some
months ago he called spade spade That is to he
called trusts and said great deal about Stacking
illegal combinations giving the people the rights that
properly theirs. In his FIRST he
ferred the manpulaors captains of industry
and used many words in attempting to show that
these manpuators should be protected and aided be
forsooh the commercial interests Of the country could
be developed without them.
Now another change have the spirit Of
the accidental presidents dream. Some weeks
suit doubt OF the trend Of public sentiment exempli-
fed by the democratic press and by several speeches made in
the house OF representatives the chief executive ordered
investigation of the Northern Pacific merger, which al
legged of the greatest of all the great combinations
of capital with which this country is afflicted This action
applause but much for the people to
the end the before they make their minds the
sincerity Of the administration in the premises More recent
y result of agitation the subject the part
the and the people of the country the president took
trdy cognizance OF the existence OF combination the
pose which raise prices food particularly
This too has been commended and rightly but, in
the other the public whole wishes just how
far administration wilt go and what results it will
oompsh before the seal of complete approval is what
the president and the attorney general have done is
plain that the administration might have found for itself
the facts which have been presented to it by the
of the country and the people approaching this fact wish
practical results before they make up their minds
that Mr. Roosevelt and his party entitled any credit
in the premises 1t is plain that nothing which has far
been done has been done entirely OF the administrations
will and accord words every that has been
made toward the regulation of combinations OF capital has
resulted from pressure brought bear by the democratic
press and party Some OF the republican papers have joined
in the movement from time time, but for the part
they chosen ignore the existence OF any such thing
trust knowing the very bone and sinew the re-
republican party furnished by these trusts.
4 #
When considers all the circumstances it plain
that Mr. Roosevelt only playing for and that he is
doing in rather clumsy 1t possible of
that the investigations which have already been
will be carried logical conclusion and muchdone thereby.
II this proves be the the president and the admins
general will be given all due credit but the people
will forget that agitation by democratic newspapers and
democratic congressman in the main responsible for the
startling disclosures which have far been made
with the beef and the great railway merger While
the president has acted which may indi-
that he really wishes regulate trusts and prevent lille
gal combinations OF capital he has been forced do by
pressure brought bear by the democratic party. Mr.
Roosevelt and appreciates the necessity OF doing
thing possible strengthen his chances of being placed
in nomination by his party the National convention
and OF Strengthening the chances of that party the
coming congressional elections we'll in the greater
struggle hence This being the he will lose
opportunity strike what may to be real blows at
the But he in with the leaders OF his party
realizes that without the OF money furnished
the party by these the chances continued republican
supremacy would be practically nil it will be that he
must work cautiously and carefully. He may accomplish
real good the absence of present evidence in
support of such belief it will be well await further
veopments before giving him his party credit for really
desiring suppress the There will be much of poll
tics in all that will be done doubt and when politics
enters into situation carries with it very large element
OF uncertainty.
The president has had interviews recently with
representatives, OF who have called to acer
tain just what his attitude toward them will be- The fact
that all OF these representatives apparently satisfied with
the things that have been told them probably significant
although altogether consistent with the nature OF the
statements which according the administration newspapers
made them by Mr. Roosevelt To Charles S Meln Of
St Paul the president the Northern Pacific railroad Mr.
Roosevelt is ALLEGED have said something like this The
present laws intend give the Federal government certain
supervision the operations corporations doing an in
tefstate commerce business Very few men in public life or
successful men OF affairs will agree what the men who
executed these laws really intended what these laws would
accomplish If they risidy enforced do not assume
TO know than others who have given much study 70
these laws But do propose find out their real merits
The government has legal department whose business II H
to enforce these laws and there will be no lack of energy
or Intelligence the OF this Federal law department in
trying 10 apply them They put there for purpos ana
We wall hnd out they accomplish what they were intended
for Perhaps these laws have weaknesses II so we will 6
them out II they unconstitutional we will find that on,
II they WILL properly enforced prevent great ,nono,o
which controls foodsus from debating prices and de6nn
ses districts We want 10 know that so that we can se
them for the protection OF the people"
Practically the same thing is claimed has been said n
Representatives Of J. P Morgan of the sugar .,,, sd 80
@ 'si au 4Ss tact that none Of these gentlemen have