Evening star., 1902-08-21
TEXT BOOK ATTACKED
REPUBLICAN DOCUMENT SAID TO
APOLOGIZE FOR PRESIDENT.
Secretary Edwards of Democratic Com
mittee Says Executive Can Say
No More Against Trusts.

The first shot which the democrats have
taken at the republican campaign text book
was fired last night. Secretary Charles A
Edwards OF the democratic congressional
campaign committee issued a statement in
which he declares that the book seeks to
make of no effect the utterances of Presi-
dent Roosevelt on the trust question
This is the first time in the history of
political campaign when a campaign COM
mittee In publishing it's campaign text book
found it necessary to apologize for the
language of the President of the United
States in his message to Congress-" said
Mr.. Edwards
This has been done by the republicans
in their campaign book concerning the Ian
guage used by President Roosevelt in his
message to Congress last December, where
he touches upon the trust question. In
explaining the Presidents attitude upon
the trust question the campaign book Cx-
plains that the President did not mean what
he said.
Tine campaign book says: President
Roosevelt's discussion of the trust ques-
tion in his first message to the Fifty
seventh Congress was conservative, but
fearless. He did not arraign the trusts as
wholly bad but conceded that they We're a
part of the industrial development of this
country. as they were of the Industrial ue-
yeIOpmt mt throughout the civilized world
I'm his message in spe aking of the trust
question the President says, 1t is also true
that there are real and grave evils, one OF
the chief being Over-CapitaliZation. because
of its many baleful consequences, ana a
resoIute and practical effort must De made
to correct these evils
He also says, There is a widespread
conviction in the minds of the American
people that the great corporations known
as trusts are in certain of their features
and tendencies hurtful to the general well
fare.
He says further. that, Corporations en-
gagged in the interstate commerce should
be regulated if they are found to exercise
and license working to the public Injury.
and that it should be much the aim of
those who seek for social betterment to rid
the business world of crimes Of cumming as
to rid tha entire body polite Of crimes OF
violence
'He again says that. In the interest of
the whole people the nation should, with
out interfering with the power Of the states
In the matter itself. also assume the power
of supervision or regulation over ali cor
pOratiOns doing an interstate business, and
last. but not least, the President says in
The first essential in determining how
to deal with the great industrial comhina-
tions is knowledge of the facts-pub!icity.'
Apology for President.
THE foregoing paragraph from the re-
publican campaign book il viii be seen,
apologies for the strenuous words of the
President concerning trusts. 1t also is si-
lent concerning the last quotation from the
President which recommends publicity.
They no doubt We're aware of the fact that
a democrat introduced in the Senate an
amendment to bill exactly embodying the
Presidents suggestion and recommendation
concerning publicity anent trusts and that
IT was voted down by a solid republican
l.. = 1,yr Hr h
therefore. for ignoring this whole question
and apOlOgizing for the attitude of the
President this question. l have been
merely waiting, before mentioning this sub
jeCt. for a final denial that the republican
campaign book is to be revised on account
Of the failure 10 present this trust question
according to the ideas Of the President,
a,s0 his attitude on the Cuban reciprocity
question I have received that denial The
book Is being issued and it is announced
that there is ne conflict between the Presi-
dent and the campaign committee on the
subject.
1t must be remembered that this book
IS the text book Of the party, the political
bible Of the campaign from a republican
standpoint. and presumed to contain an ex-
position 81 all the issues which the repUb-
lcan managers recognize as being present
in the campaign. II it is true that the
President IS satisfied with the book. the
public has a misconception of the attitude
Of Mr.. Roosevelt with reference to reel
prOcity and To the trusts.
The question OF reciprocity is ignored as
not being Cf sufficient consequence to be
considered. or as presenting an issue for
which th-TepublicdnS as organization are
not willing to take responsibility. The aC-
CeptaUce by the President of this DISPOSE
ton OF the question amounts TO an aCquies-
CenCe in the position Of the campaign man
ayers Of the republican party and an aband-
Onment Of the proposition and estOps him
from advocating Cuban reciprocity on the
hustings during mis- swing around the cir
Gle, which begins in September II Is a
practical admission that the republicans
have abandoned this position and that he
must depend upon democrats for support
II anything IS to be accomplished
With reference to the trust question the
acceptance by the President as satisfactory
the reseEtatiOn made by the republican
campaign book Is a reversal from the posi-
tOn which the President is publicly sup
posed 10 have taken, and which he evident
ly did take from the extracts above quoted
from his message. The spirit and argument
OF the republican campaign book is in the
defense Of trusts in general it being mere
~ conceded that there is a possibility OF
some trust being Objectionable They not
only have done this. but apparently fearing
that too much Importance might be at
tacned To the apparent hostility of the
President toward trusts. they have aDoI-
UgiZed for mis- position.
The public may draw its own corcIus
ions"