Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-01-15
THE MATTER OF PUBLICITY.
In both his first and second mes.

THE MATTER OF PUBLICITY.
In both his first and second mes
sages to congress President Roos-
evelt suggested no remedy for the
evils of the trust system other
than that of publicity-the ex-
hibitiOn of the stockbooks of the
concerns in issue.
Mr.. Littlefield. acting under the
direction of the chief executive,
has prepared bill embracing this
idea, Of which more will doubtless
be heard when the matter comes
directly before our national law
makers for consideration.
Notwithstanding the course out
lined by the president relative to
the treatment Of the trust problem,
it appears that there is a painful
lack OF unanimity in republican
circles relative to the propriety as
we'll as the efficiency of the
presidential scheme.
Chairman Knapp, of the inter-
state commerce commission, ex-
pressed himself in opposition to
Mr.. Roosevelt's views some time
ago, and his opinions have
apparently attracted as much, if
not more, attention in republican
circles than those of the president
himself.
1t is not at all unlikely that
Mr.. Knapp, whose official position
undoubtedly qualities him to
speak intelligently if not honestly
of the matter in hand, will be OK
tensively quoted when the Issue is
brought before congress for final
adjudication.
Mr.. Knapp's alleged reasons for
opposing publicity are precisely
the same as those urged by Mr..
Roosevelt in support Of that course
of procedure.
The chairman of the interstate
commerce commission is of the
opinion that publicity will destroy
competition in the trusts and lead
to still larger combinations of
capital for the control of our
commercial and industrial life,
alleging that the Sherman anti
trust law has had that effect up to
the present time.
1t sounds very much like a
burlesque for anyone to suggest a
possibility of "accelerating" by
any means the destruction Of COM
petition-the chief aim and pur-
pose of all combinations in restraint
of trade-and at the worst Mr..
Knapp's fears as to the federated
trusts will assuredly be realized
in their combination, regardless Of
whether the publicity idea does or
does not prevail.
One might as we'll amputate the
tentacle of a devilfish, and hope to
destroy its capacity for harm, as to
aim unavailing blows at the al
legged evils Of the trust system while
carefully protecting the life OF
those institutions and throwing
around them the legislative policies
of a great nation.
1t was the demand for some sort
of public relief, and the knowledge
that publicity would harm the
developed trusts in no way, tha'
led President Roosevelt to advocat,
the plans proposed; and it is with
no desire to serve the interests O
the people or to injure the trusts
that Mr.. Knapp has given hi
views to populace that is hungr,
for suggestions that will checkmat
or cure the conditions that exis
and call halt upon the trus
system.
There is no likelihood that tn
present congress will take an,
steps calculated to suppress tn
evils complained of, or in an,
way embarrass such liberal contrib
utors to the republican campaign
fund as the trusts have proven
themselves to be.-Butte Miner.
Buffalo Hump has gone throug