Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-29
TRUST OPPOSITION
Against denomination Of
President Roosevelt.
GOSSIP AT CAPITOL
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TRUSTS
IN FOOD PRODUCTS.
People Will Not Be Misled as to His
Motives-Western Represen-
tatives Satisfied.

some very interesting political gossip is
going the rounds of republican circles at
the Capitol 1t touches the denomination
OF President Roosevelt and the absorbing
topic of the campaign against trusts upon
Whlch the executive branch of the govern
ment is entering. recent rumor that in
vesDgation of at least one other trust is
contemplated adds interest to the situation.
President Roosevelt's name enters into
the discussion by reason of the fact that he
has personally directed the moves thus far
made against trusts, and because of the al
legation frequently iterated that he Is
bringing down upon himself the wrath of
the great captains of industry, who pro-
pose to punish him, If possible, by combin-
ing against his denomination.
The reports freely circulated that the
President is incurring the displeasure Of
some of the great railway and trust mag
mates are believed by many politicians in
congress to be not without foundation
Where there Is so much smoke it is thought
there must be some fire. The talk is all
secondhand, to be sure, but It is traced to
the same source. Senators and represent
at1Ves come back from trips to New York
Boston and Philadelphia bringing reports
Whlch they found in circulation that If the
president continues his propaganda the fiat
is to go forth against him from the men
who are supposed to lead in finance and
participate in politics. Occasionally an echo
OF this talk is heard from Chicago ST Louis
and Minneapolis.
Against the Trusts
When the President directed the ATTORNEY
General to take action against the North
ern Pacific railway merger Mr.. j. Pierpont
Morgan and other capitalists rushed down
to Washington and conferred with their
friends in official circles. They feared, it
was said at the time, that the President
might have other similar views in contemIr
plation, and they wanted to head off a
repetition of the unWelcome surprise that
had been given financial interests. In that
case, however, it was mainly the stock
Jobbing schemes Of Wall street which had
been Jolted, and not much sympathy was
found in any quarter outside of the unfor-
tunates who were 'long' of the market
Ihe presence at the Capitol this week of
Mr.. j. ]. Hill, the western railway king,
mas started the talk going again. Mr.. Hill
Is said to have expressed to his friends in
Congress, especially to his intimates in
the Senate, a fear that spirit of hostility
to railway and financial interests may be
ehgendered in Congress and become mani
fest in legislation rejecting the tone which
some capitalists think exists in the execu-
tive branch. 1t is a part of the gossip
current at the Capitol that Mr. Hill does
not regard President Roosevelts chances
of denomination as flattering if there is
any such outcome.
Further Action Expected.
The Presidents initiation Of a campaign
against the beef trust may be followed, it
is said, by like action in the case of another
food supply controlled by trust IL ground
for the action can be shown. The beet
sugar refiners Of the west have been loud
in their complaints Of oppression on the
part of a rival corporation. The talk in
this instance, however, is very guarded and
may be more or less speculative.
The main interest in the situation centers
about the question what effect will the op-
position Of the trusts, If exerted, have on
President Roosevelts prospects. The opin-
ion is almost unanimous among politicians
that the Presidents course is likely to win
him friends among the people at large
whose delegates can outweigh the adverse
influence of the trusts.
1t is said that the talk against the Presi-
dent is based entirely on a misconception
of his intentions and policies. He has not
entered upon a reckless campaign of ag-
gression toward the great trade combina-
tions per Sc. He is only after those which
may be operating in violation of law and
against the public welfare. His first aim
is to develop whether they are unlawful
and whether they are doing things detri-
mental to the good of the country.
People Will Not Be Misled.
to appreciate his position, and will not be
misled by any clap-trap talk that he is I'M
settling stable financial conditions. Any
thing that interferes with the plans of the
trusts will necessarily be construed by the
trusts as hostility to their interests, but it
will be another thing to convince the pub
lie that the President should be punished
Tor opposing those interests when they are
lnimical to the public veal.
Inc PRESIDENTS course is highly salts
factory to western representatives. They
realize that they will have to face the trust
issue in the next campaign. They had fair
warning Of the coming fight in the last
campaign. The President is helping them
in the most practical way. They will be
arraigned by the democrats for the failure
of Congress to enact antitrust legislation
They will reply that a republican executive
is enforcing existing legislation, so the
western congressman are encouraging him
to go ahead with the good work. They say
that the best thing that could happen for
him would be for the word to get around
that the trusts are to attack him.