The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-29
ACTION vs.. TALK.

@ r ..... H.
While the democratic congressman
and editors continue their roles Of
verbal trust demolishers and parading
before the country as the original and
only genuine liberators of the people.
the president is not saying much, but
the work he Is doing is what counts
and shows the country who its real
friend is. Neither distracted nor an
noyed by what his political enemies
are doing and paying no heed to their
%flapdoodel talk in the forum and
through the columns of the press, the
president and his attorney general
continue the course mapped out by
them and when the proper time comes
act. Thus they did with the railroad
merger what they are now doing with
the alleged beef trust. The former
is in the courts and the latter will
be before many more hours shall have
passed. Whatever the outcome, the
charge cannot be made that either or
both proved recreant or Indifferent to
the duties Of their Office or that they
neglected to do their utmost to secure
relief from a wrong they believed had
an existence.
OF course, the outcome of the suits
depends upon the view of the matter
the courts take. They may hold that
the evidence presented Is insufficient
or that the law is powerless to inter-
fere because of faulty construction or
because of failure to provide the nee
essary remedy. These are questions
with which the president and attor-
ney general have nothing to do. They
are proceeding to the best Of their
ability and in accordance with the
law as 1t exists. Should it turn cut
that the present laws are inadequate
or faulty then it will become the duty
Of the legislative bodies to amend
them or replace them with new laws
that will prove the bulwark demand
ed by the people to protect them
against unlawful and oppressive COM
binations of capital formed for the
purpose Of %enriching the few at the
expense of the many.
AS stated by the president on many
occasions, it is his purpose to enforce
the laws as he finds them and not to
pass on their validity or s%uflciency.
His object is twofold: First, to IN.
force the laws because they are the
laws and second, ascertain If they are
what is needed and whether the OBJ
jects fer which they were framed are
to. be accomplished by their applica-
ton and enforcement. II found faulty
and inefficient he will demand that
congress exercise it's authority and
pass new laws that will cover exist
ing e%xigencies and provide for future
emergencies. Should the necessity
for this arise then will have come the
opportunity for the democratic sena-
tors and representatives who are now
talking so loud and much to show
their sincerity and assist the admin
~istration in it's efforts to better exist.
ing conditions in respect to the
change they say is so sorely needed.
If they are really sincere in their pro-
LESSONS Of loyalty to the people they
will gladly do all in their power to
help the administration in this regard
and go before the country with clean
hands and honest record. But the
suspicion is entertained that they will
do nothing Of the sort, but on one pre-
text or another refuse to lend their
assistance and continue to act in their
capacity Of obstructionists simply be.
cause the other party would be given
its share of the credit for whatever
good may have been accomplished.