Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-11
rHr PRESIDENT AND THE TRUSTS.

1t Is stated that President Roosevelt
caused the public announcement to be
made that the Standard Oil company
was ~endeavoring to prevent antitrust
legislation and that kilograms had been
received by United States senators,
ing that such legislation be stopped. A
Washington dispatch says that II this
be the fact, or If 1t should be generally
believed to be the fact by trust mag
mates, "the political significance of such
a development would be very great and
might have a very important bearing
on the action of the next national re.
publican convention"
The obvious meaning of this is that
the trusts may endeavor to defeat
the nomination Of President Roosevelt
next year. 1t is by no means improb-
able that they will do so. It is not to
be doubted that the men generally who
are in control of the great combinations
are hostile to the president. A New
York republican paper recently said
that 1t is a matter of common notoriety
that the trust influences are so deter
mined to make an end Of Mr.. Roosevelt
that II his nomination cannot be pre-
vented they will even go to the extreme
length Of backing a conservative" dem
ocrat to beat him for election. No in
telligent man will underrate the power
and fnfuaOca of tho 0raat ooubgro.ion.
They are vast and f~ar-reaching and If
exerted In the political field will not be
without effect. But we do not believe
that the trusts can compass the defeat
of President Roosevelt IN the next re.
publican national convention and we
think his election would be made the
more certain by their opposition. A
very large majority of the American
people are we'll satisfied with the course
of Mr.. Roosevelt in regard to the trusts
The policy of dealing with them which
he has recommended is moderate and
conservative. 1t does not propose Il
re%volutionize but simply to regulate. II
is not designed to destroy but rather II
preserve that which is worthy of preser
walton and eliminate that which is not
II co%ntemplates no injury to whatever
Is lawful and fair and honest. No cor
poration that is complying with tn,
laws and dealing in a straightforward
way with the public has anything t.
fear from the Roosevelt policy.
The earnest determination OF tn,
president to secure legislation which h
believes to be necessary to check tn,
, growth of monopolistic combination
and to protect the public against thei
evils has the practically unanimou
approval Of the people, They know hin
to he absolutely sincere and they fee
8 confident that whatever legislation 1
? enacted he will make all possible effor
5 to enforce. They want such a man 4
e the executive office n they have tn
power TO place him there In spite OF tn
hostility and the Vaccinations OF tn
trusts. lie the people clearly under
stand that the combinations are ben
upon making an end of Presideu
Roosevelt n they will rally to hi
( support with an enthusiasm that wi
e oVerwhelm all opposition. There ar
intimations OF schemes and i~ntrigues 1
behaf OF Others. II there be such the
:, VIII prove futile. Theodore Rooseve,
e is today stronger than ever before I'm Ii
e confidence and esteem OF a majority {
d the American people and there Is ever
reason TO believe that he win not I