Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular OorrespondeRt)
Washington, Feb. 16, 1908.


President Roosevelt, by the firm
stand he has taken in support of
adequate antitrust legislation, has
secured the completion by Congress
of the antitrust program outlined
in these letters last week. In order
to accomplish this end, Mr.. Roose-
velt has talked very plainly to the
leaders of his party. He has stated
the vanished facts and in some in
stances has seriously offended, by
what they term his "brutal frank
ness" the meu who have the great
est weight in he republican nation
al conven On. The President
states his osition very simply.
He says, have done my duty by
the whole ,eople as have seen it
and / aul q lite prepared to stand
or fall by tn, II verdict" In this
connection no one denies that the
Attorney General will find his posi-
tion materially strengthened in the
further prosecution of the unlawful
acts of the great corporations known
as trusts.
In view of the Presidents posi-
tion of the subject of trusts it has
become we'll recognized fact, in
the inner circles of the party, that
all that element which believes there
should be no Legislative interference
with the business interests of the
country will work assiduously
against Mr.. Roosevelt's nomination
in 1904. AS to the trusts them
selves it is a common expression
that they have "no souP' and it is
equally true that they have no poll
tics. With Mr.. Roosevelt as the
Republican candidate and man
whom they would describe as "safe''
at the head of the democratic ticket,
their influence and their extensive
campaign contribution would go in
to the democratic fund. The demo-
Gratis realize this fact and such men
as Arthur p. German, Richard
Olney and others, whose standing
with the capitalists of the country
is unimpeachable, are being earnest
ly, openly, discussed as probable
democratic candidates. Always
trimmers, the democrats will have
no hesitation in trimming their
sails to catch the trust wind in the
next election. The friends of the
President are discussing the situa-
ton very seriously and all believe
that the people will have to choose,
either at the republican national
convention or at the polls, between
an honest and fearless advocate of
the rights of the people and SER
want of the corporate wealth of the
country.
1t is regarded as practically GER
tain that Mr.. George B. Cortelyou,
now Secretary to the President, will
be chosen by Mr.. Roosevelt as head
Of the new Department of Commerce
and Labor. Some Of the Presi-
dents sincerest friends regard the
appointment as unwise from poll
teal standpoint. They say that
with the powerful influences which
are known TO be against him in his
own party, Mr.. Roosevelt ought to
"play politics. and appoint to this
important position man who
would carry considerable political
influence in one of the doubtful
states. To their argument Mr..
Roosevelt replies that his brand of
politics is that policy which he be-
lieves will make for the greatest
good of the people. No one ques-
tions Mr.. Cortclyou's ability and
NI' 'NlhNIll hllbNS lldb Hc Will
administrate this important Office
in the interests Of the people. He
is in perfect accord with the Presi-
dent on the subject of trusts, with
which the new Department will
have much 10 do. Even under the
provisions of the Nelson Amend
ment providing for publicity OF cor
porate statistics the officer in charge
will have the widest latitude and
with an administrative officer
whose sympathies were with thc
corporations the law might be- mad,
wholly useless. No one denies th,
correctness of this argument. AL
though some iea, lhat when i
comes to the point of votes in th,
convention Mr.. Roosevelt fear
legsly honest p0licy will not win