The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-30
MORCAN'S GRIEVANCE.
Reasons Why He Seeks Presi-
dent ROoseYelt's Defeat.

st. Louis, Sept. So.-A washington
special to the Globe Democrat says: The
secret of j. Pierpont Morgan's pro-
nounced personal dispatches, to use the
defeat President Roosevelt for the Re-
publican nomination in 1904, or, falling
in that. to support a Democratic candl-
date for the presidency, has been made
plain. There is in it. of course, selfish
interest, due to the presidents hostile
attitude against the trusts, many of
which are creatures OF Mr.. Morgan's
financial genius. There is also an ele-
ment of personal resentment, and the
reasons for this have just come to light
1t dates back several months, to few
days after the attorney general, under
the direction of President Roosevelt.
commenced legal proceedings against
the Northern securities company. Mr.
Morgan paid a personal visit to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and protested against
the action of the attorney general. Here
Is what the president said to him:
II am neither a bull nor bear or
United States. and sworn to execute
the law. / will proceed against you or
any Of your combinations as quickly as
would against a striker; not because
except as either of them Is violator
OF the laws of the country"
That IL the exact language OF the
president. 1t was uttered directly to
Il
the action of Attorney General Knox in
bringing suit against the Northern Sc
curtties company. The occasion Is well
remembered. Mr.. Morgan and num-
Der Of leading financiers came to Wash
ington and stopped at the Arlington for
a day and a night. Thew were in con-
ference with number of prominent Of
f1cials and called upon the president. 1t
was during that call that the conversa-
ton took place. Mr.. Morgan insisted
no ha a a
mistake and that the administration
was being used to bear stocks. Presf-
dent Roosevelt answered him in the ex-
act language already quoted, at the
for the action which had Just been ia
ken by the attorney general.
The head of the great syndicates
made no answer at the time that indica-
ted his resentment. Since then. how
ever, he has been dined by emperors
fawning. by European rulers. and has
returned allied with bitterness against
the president who has dared to oppose
him by enforcing the law. He has open
presidents nomination and OF support
ing some Democrat like CLEVELAND" in
case ,EEr.s Roosevelt is the Republican
standard bearer in 1904.
Mr. Morgan Is known to be exceeding.
ly bitter at this time, as testimony Is
being taken in the merger cases, and
he will probably be called as a witness.
He is incensed that the attorney general
should deal with him as with other men
who have attempted to form railway
pools and have been called down by the
courts.
The impression is gaining support In
Washington's official circles that the
Morgan opposition to the president Is
known that before Mr.. Morgan went to
Europe last summer he had confer
ence with Senator Hanna. and left him
with the strong impression that he
would use his influence in bringing
about a settlement of the strike. On
the strength OF this assurance Senator
Hanna all but promised that the coal
roads, through the influence of Morgan,
would accept the good offices of the
Civic Federation to settle the strike by
arbitration. 1t was known that Morgan
could dictate to the operators. and it
was believed that he would do so.