The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-28
The President and the Trusts.

the east to create the impression that
the appointment of Secretary Moody
Ito be attorney general means a gen.
eral onslaught on the trusts by the
Roosevelt administration during the
months Immediately following the No
ivember election. This story has been
istarted by men who are anxious to
do the republican national ticket
harm, and it should be discounted lib
orally. The antitrust plans of the ad-
|ministration are well known to the
country. During the last session of
congress they were reported in detail
to that body by the department Of
Justice, and there has been no thought
of altering them. The suits now pend
ing will be pushed to final decision,
and others will be begun as circum-
stances may suggest. There is no
more danger now that the president
will run amuck" than there was
when Mr.. Knox used those words sew
eral months ago in outlining the ad-
ministration program.
Mr.. Moody is not a great lawyer.
He was a member Of congress for ten
years preceding his elevation to the
cabinet, but his record in that body
contains nothing wonderful. For per-
sonal reasons, however, the president
is very fond of him, and is willing to
transfer him from the position of Sec
rotary Of the navy to that of attor-
ney general, SO that next spring, when
Mr.. Moody retires from public life to
resume the practice of his profession
in New England, he may have the
added reputation that will come from
his having served as the presidents
legal adviser. Beyond this the ap-
pointment has no significance what
ever, and the attempt to make it
mean something that would embarrass
the republicans in the campaign
which is now at hand is on a par with
other attempts of a similar character,
and having a like origin.
" 1t may be said definitely that the
administrators antitrust policy will
not be changed. Thru the bureau Of
corporations Of the department Of
commerce and labor important data
the president during the winter, but
nothing Of a spectacular nature is
being thought of, and the chances are
very good that number of irregulari-
ties and more or less fragrant viola
lions Of the law will be corrected
without publicity. 1t is already known
that some half-doZen Or more large
|
bureau of corporations has been in
curing have voluntarily offered to
comply with the governments de-
mands without suits. Others will be
expected to follow their example. So
much for having in the White House
a man who means what he says and
who believes in law enforcement
The president has shown that he is
alive to the need of proceeding with
due care in the matter Of trust prose-
cutions; that he does not purpose any
relaxation of the vigilance and indus
try which have characterized his adj
ministration thus far, but that he will
try to proceed II some such way as
to avoid giving alarm to business. He
Will IedCIl Tie QeSlTeu goal In the enO
and just as quickly as by the spectacu-
lar route, which some of his enemies
are fond Of saying he intends to fol.
low. To use his pertinent figure, he
wants to speak softly" to corpora
tons which are violating the law, and
If by this method he is able to work
in them change of policy, well and
good. While speaking softly" he
will not neglect to carry a big stick,
but this weapon will not be used in.
discriminatory. Only those will fee
it who cannot be reached in any other
way.
In short, the president will treat
these great trust problems just as the
best thought of the country would
have him treat them. There will be
no running amuck,'' but there viii
be tireless investigation Of trus
/ concerns, and an effective, anG
wherever possible a quiet, campaign
against them. If there is undue pub.
LEFTY, the trusts themselves will bring
| 1t on.