The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-18
WILL THE PRESIDENT GIsAPPLE
WITH THE TRUSTS?

the voters that he has the disposition
and the courage to grapple with the.
trusts. He says:
.In the series of suggestions which
Mr.. Bryan makes as the OASIS Ior
the new radical Democracy is one
which has strength. Ih1s relates 10
the trusts. No one who had occasion
during the campaign in the effort to
learn what the people were thinking
about and how they were going to
vote can doubt it's vitality. A few Re-
publican leaders who think That the
Senate cloak room govern public senti-
ment maintained that the trust evil
had cured Itself and that the issue
was a dead one. But if they were
brought in contact with their own con-
stituents in this campaign they must
nave changed their minds
aside from his personal qualities
one element OF President RooSevelt's
phenomenal popularity was the conf
dence of the people in his ability TO
grapple with the trusts. His courage
to do il they never oouoteI at all. 8ut
the conviction had grown on them
that he also could, be depended on to
find the remedy. In Wisconsin, In
diana, West Virginia and Illinois, in
talking to local political leaders in
variably | found that the trusts were
not dead subject In spite of uni
versally prosperous conditions people
were talking of these combinations as
a clog or the general prosperity. In
some places it was the railroads they
We're talking against. In others it WAS
Industrial combinations.
Nor was the tariff element entirely
forgotten. Unquestionably one great
source of Republican strength was the
feeling Of the business community
everywhere against giving the DEM
ocrats any sort of a preteXt for med
ding with the tariff. Yet in many
instances, talking with manufacturers,
l found them advocating tariff revision
Some favored the revival of reciproci-
ty. Others were considering Repre-
sentative Babcock's bills, which never
received serious consideration in Con-
gress. Always there was the blunt
opinion that the trusts which might
have advantages from the tariff
should be reached, and where they
did not have tariff preference that
some other way should be found to
handle them. In the first flush of the
Republican victory this sentiment may
not be manifest, but | am willing to
wait a few months and let the de-
velopment of public opinion demon
strate whether my impressions were
correct"
If Mr.. Pepper is right there is hope,
for if Mr.. Roosevelt undertakes to
"grapple with the trusts and take
away from them advantages" they
derive from the tariff. the American
people of all parties will hold up his
wall of opposition in the leaders of the
Republican party in Congress, most of
whom owe such obligations to the
trusts they would not dare to Iegislate
against them. The Republican Senate
will never do anything that is gem
timely and aggressively hostile 20 the
trusts. If Mr.. Roosevelt justifies
the faith Mr.. Pepper says the people
have in him, and proceeds against the
trusts, his party leaders will go back
sin fight in the Republican party of
the Republic.
Frankly we entertain no idea that
Mr.. Roosevelt will do thing that
will trouble the Steel trust the To-
bacco trust, the Sugar trust, the Rub
Der trust. the Beef trust, or any other
great trust that is fattening by gov
ornamental bounties and immunity
from prosecution for illegal acts. He
has never proceeded against single
portation trust, in the Northern Sc
curities case, was started by the Gov
errors of all the North western states,
demanded by the press, and the Presi-
dent then commenced proceedings. 1t
was a trust not in operation, and as
soon as the Supreme Court upheld the
law and opened the door for proceed
ings against trusts actually robbing
the people, his Attorney General--lonG
attorney for the Steel trust-hastened
to declare that "the administration
will not run amuck," and no action has
since been taken against any trust. In
the campaign every trust magnate in
the land supported Roosevelt. most OF
them gave large contributions to elect
him and the organizers of the North
ern Securities Company led in support
of Roosevelt. though a few months
ago they were vigorously denouncing
him and opposing his reelection.
Mr. Pepper tells US the people be-
lieve the President will "grapnle with
the trusts, Well, we hope he is a true
prophet, and if it turns out as he pre-
diets We will rejoice. But our private
opinion IS that as a foe to trusts
Roosevelt is a grandstand PLAYER of
the first water and that he will 10
nothing that will curb or destroy the
great trusts. If So thew will be great
ly surprised, and it will be the first
time the trusts have invested millions
and found out that they have purchas,
ed gold brick.
Mr. Roosevelt vigorously and vio-
lently denied that he had made any
agreement" or had any understand
ing" with the trusts. The majority
of the people accepted his statement
as true According to Mr.. Pepper they
expect him 'to grappie with the
trusts" If he does this effectively and
effectually-and he can do it If ne
will, for Congress has voted the mon