The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-13
Standard OIL will perhaps oppose the

Standard Oil will perhaps oppose the
president for denomination and re-
election, but its ability to injure him is
Insignificant when its tactics arc
khown. Nc politician dares be openly
the friend of he gigantic petroleum
trust. The Rockefeller outfit would
probably have don all in its power ia
oppose Roosevelt in any case. But its
wings have been clipped.
This is the story as told by friends of
the administration. They expect to see
substantial trust legislation passed, and
10 see the administration strengthened
by it.
Defeat of the Politicians.
Getting real legislation has not bee,.
easy. Too many republicans are in
sincere in their protestations, and too
many democrats are in the same fix.
Both crowds hate to offend the trusts
and railroads. The democrats would
like to see republican failure in order to
make political capital.
Yet the senate has passed the depart
ment of bill, with its pub
licity features that We're so vigorously
opposed by the big trusts; it has passed
a measure to prevent rebates and Civ
ing the interstate commission larger
pow to enforce fair treatment: and it
has passed a bill to expedite disposal of
cases concerning enforcement OF inter-
state ommerce regulations. There
must yet be consideration by the house
and perhaps conferences, and these will
afford the al chance of grand stand
playing and defeat of the measures, but
indications all point to the final passage
of the bills.
The president has forced the senate
to do business.
Senators Make Terms.
Backed by public opinion and a deter
mination which would not be dallied with
he brought them to terms. This much
can be told now. Perhaps at some future
date the whole story can be told-the
story Of the conferences with Aldrich and
Hanna, and other men strong In the par
ty, n strong in their sympathy with the
great railroad and manufacturing inter-
ests of the country-of the desire of these
party leaders to temporize and postpone
to make a loud demonstration against
but no real attack-to pull off a
sham battle and fire a lot Of blank car
tridges-all Of which Roosevelt would not
have; and how Roosevelt laid 1t down fat
~ and squarely that something real, safe
and conservative, must be done, Offering
hem the alternative OF an extra session
and a special message which would be an
to the country and would leave
40 doubt where the blame should rest for
allure of legislation;-some day this story
nay be told, and it will be disclosed how
hose strong party leaders experienced a
,hange of heart, and, like small boys con-
with the Christening trunk strap,
hose to swallow the treacle and sulphur;
'ut to tell this now might be offensive to
ONE OF the participants, so that chapter
must wait for the historian who writes
II people too dead to mind what Is said
bout them.
Fight Was at White House.
How the senate l%egislates when it wants
o is shown in this trust bill episode. The
Ight was at the White House; the debate
vas at the White house; the meeting of
he opposing interests was there. The
resident sad to the a leaders, in
Il voice the demand of the people for
he beginning Of some real restraints upon
he railroads and trusts. You represent !
ne republican party. The party controls
9th branches of the national legislature.
he party will be held responsible, and ]
will see that there is no mistake as to {
lacing the blame on such of the party S
'aders as are responsible. Now you re- s
lse this legislation at your peril. / do S
OF propose to share in the consequences" 1
Whereupon the republican leaders said c
re to another:
Verify, we are up against the real t
ing. VIII it not be the part of wisdom {
compromise with this buster of trusts? q
IT not better that we buy hin off with Z
5 little as he Will take, and give him a '
oderate regulation of railroads and an
nocent publicity bureau, rather than '
have the democrats and %populists upon O
II backs-and him also-and to he whip b
wed by some manner of legislation and v
in the press and on the stump. d
hich will squeeze the water all out of our a
making 1t impossible to float
If deals, and give chills and aguc to o
If Wall street every other minute?" u
And they resolved this doubt in the af- s.
NATIVE; and they turned to, and did t.
lsiness with the president; and they S.
reed to pass the trust programme u
not to call an extra ses sion for e
purposes. And in a couple
days the senate gets busy. and without
Dor or pains, brings forth the trust leg
alton which was desired.