The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-09
JUST A Big BLUFF
MIR. GRIGGS CALLS THE PRESI-
DENTS "FOUR-FLUSH."
HIS TRUST TALK RIDlCULED.
WILL BE ONLY A SHAM BATTLE,
SAYS GEORGIAN.

Republicans Had Ample Opportuni-
ty During Last Session of Com
gress, but Not a Move Did They
Make Against the Trusts, and No
Message Did They Receive From
the President on the Subject-Dem-
ocrafs Placed Themselves on Rec
ord, However-Now That Congress
Has Adjourned the President
Opens Up.
Washington, July S.-Chairman
Griggs, of the Democratic Congress
sional Committee signalized his return
to headquarters to-day by blowing
holes in President Roosevelt's anti
trust balloon. Judge Griggs in his
good natured way, proceeds to ridicule
the Presidents belated zeal against
trusts and at the same time hurls few
stubborn facts at the President and
the Republican party on the subject of
trusts.
81 see the President has declared
that he is to make war on trusts" said
Judge Griggs "A fight conducted by
the Republican party against these
monopolies would be nothing more
than sham battle, and 1 have too
much confidence in the good judgment
of the American people to believe that
they will be fooled by this sort of cam
paign bluff.
six years the Republican par
ty has been absolute power. 1t has
controlled the Senate, the House of
Representatives and the presidency,
for seven months a Congress of Re
publican in. both branches has been
in session, yet not one sentence, not
one word lot one syllable of legisla-
ton has been undertaken for the SUP
preston CT the trusts.
Now, four days after the adjourn
ment Of Congress and five months he
fore it is to meet again, with a great
national campaign coming on, in when
the people are to decide who are the
friends of trusts, the President sails
forth armed cap apple to assault the
trusts. Mark you, he did not send a
message to Congress, but instead TOOK
occasion to go to Pittsburg and de-
liver his pronurriamento- in that city.
Democrats Are on Record.
THE Democratic party sent mes
sage to Congress while that body was
in session, although we had no au-
thority to do so. We sent it from
our caucus, and when this same ques-
ton of trusts came up every Demo
cratic member in the House voted
against adjourning until some legisla-
ton was enacted which would curtail
the power of the gigantic monopolies.
and every Republican voted to go
home, without taking any such action.
leaving them to plumber the people for
a time longer. We voted to remain
here, if it should be all summer. for
the purpose of enacting antitrust
legislation, but now, after Congress has
adjourned, the President buckles on his
armor and starts out to fight the trusts
1t is all a big bluff. AS they say in
poker parlance, it is a four flush and
| do not believe that any one will be
deceived by it.
And what is the remedy which the
President suggests, why it is publicity.
Publicity is nothing more than moral
suasion which would have about as
much effect upon trust as it would
have upon highwayman. 1 never
knew of moral suasion causing robber
to desist from 'holding-up' his victim,
and l cannot see where it would be of
any more effect with the trusts. What
is needed Is the strong arm of the law
in both cases.
Republicans on the Run.
1--WE have the Republican party on
the run upon this great question of
trusts, and we propose to keep them
running, and see that they do not hide
behind any such flimsy shelter as the
President put up in his Pittsburg
speech"
Judge Griggs expects to go to New
York the latter 0art of this week to
confer with the Democratic leaders in
that city.
DISMISSED ENTIRE PANEL.