Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-10
WILL BENEFIT PARTY
REPUBLICAN CoNGREssMEN ON
THE MERGER CASE.
Believe One Antitrust Law Of Last
Session Has Fulfilled It's
Mission.

Republican congressman VINO are stlli
in the city are unanimous in expressions
of qualification over the decision of the
court in the Northern Securities case.
From their viewpoint the decision will re-
dound to the benefit of the republican party
in several ways
To begin with, it is the first definite re-
suit Of one feature of the antitrust legis-
lation of the last Congress, and in that re-
spect is refutation of the claims of the
democrats that the work of Congress was
ineffective.
I'VE have delivered the goods" said one
congressman to a Star reporter today
1--WE have secured action as result of our
legislation, and the democrats cannot go
behind the returns. One antitrust law of
the last session has fulfilled the claim made
for it. We can reasonably expect the
other measures of like import to produce
as good results"
The Northern Securities case was put
forward for hearing and was tried in the
court of appeals under the provisions of
the bill of last session providing for ex-
pediting cases of this character. If the
railway companies appeal the case to the
Supreme Court as it Is announced they
will do the same expedition will mark the
proceedings in the court of last resort and
bring an early settlement once and for all
Of the important questions involved in the
case.
Give Law a Fair Trial.
Republican congressman expect that this
action will serve to appease the clamor for
further antitrust legislation, obviating the
necessity for taking up that subject again
at the next session. The desire Of the re-
publican leaders in Congress is to give the
legislation now on the statute books a fair
trial before proceeding further in the same
direction. They think that a great deal
can be accomplished in the correction of
some of the most glaring trust evils by that
legislation and they do not want to unsettle
business by experiments
The argument advanced by the republi-
can congressman is that the republican
party has demonstrated it's sincerity in It's
promises to regulate the trusts. A repub-
lican Congress has provided the law and
republican President and Attorney General
have have executed it. Undoubtedly. the Pres
ident will be given a great deal of credit
for the results in this case, and no effort
will be made by his party associates in
Congress to detract from the need OF
praise accorded him. But at the same time
the interests Of the republican party in
their larger sense are also to be conserved.
wall street has never forgiven Mr..
Roosevelt for his action in this Northern
Securities case. 1t will be remembered
that he caused proceedings to be insti-
tuted without notifying Wall street in ad-
vance. The market got a heavy Jolt in
consequence, and, of course, to- Wall street
that was heinous crime. Naturally there
will be some speculation as to Wall streets
future attitude, now that the case has
been decided adversely. The opinion of re-
publican congressman is that Wall street
will have more respect for Mr.. Roosevelt
and a more wholesome fear of the execu-
tive branch Of the government even if
its mercenary affection for them is not
increased.
One thing is certain to the minds of
the republican congressman who discuss
this point; if the great financial interests,
the corporations and trusts dare to utter
word of protest or whisper a threat
against the republican administration for
this action it will do more good to the
party in the next campaign than all the
contributions to the campaign funds of
both parties by the trusts could accom-
plsh