Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-02
The Foraker Bill.

The bill introduced last week by Senator
Foraker, to amend the Sherman antitrust
law and other statutes bearing on the mat
ter of trust regulation, has proved the
cause of a remarkable phenomenon in cur
rent political comment. Despite the fact
of President Roosevelt's pronounced posi-
ton in favor of trust regulation, despite
the acts of his administration to this end,
the general Inference at first drawn from
the situation was that he was in some de-
gree responsible for the introduction of
the measure. This inference appears to
have been inspired by the fact that Sen
ator Foraker has of late been occupying a
relationship to the President relatively
close in contrast with that of his col
league, Senator Hanna. Arguing solely
from that premise. those newspapers
which are from partisan motives opposed
to the President are hailing with delight
the spectacle. as they proclaim, of the So
called antitrust President seeking to
curry favor with the trusts through this
measure brought forward by his political
lieutenant. And other newspapers. pro-
nounced in their antagonism to the Presi-
dent solely on the ground of his opposition
to the trusts, are giving him the credit of
the new move and expressing sinister JOY
thereat. While those which stand for rad
ical trust-busting and dislike the cautious,
well-considered work of the administra-
tion in fighting the great combinations
grow frantic with alarm at this token of
the Presidents new alliance with Wall
street. Furthermore. some stanch republi-
can papers, which indorse the President
and his antitrust acts as wise and polite,
seem apprehensive of the Presidents atti-
tude in the matter and warn him forth
with to disclam all connection with the
Foraker bill.
While this confused clamor of many
tongues arises. each with its own inspira-
ton of actual friendliness to or enmity
toward the President, Senator Foraker
himself declares that the President is in
no degree responsible for the bill. Mr.
Roosevelt, says the father of the measure
never saw 1t or heard of it before intro
duction Mr.. Foraker assumes all respon-
sibility. And Attorney General Knox so
states the case as to leave no doubt that
the President stands today where he did
a year ago. when he accepted the unfavor-
able opinion of his chief legal adviser
upon precisely the same proposition as
that embraced in the Foraker bill. Thus
the Presidents Endorsement Of the meas
ure is effectively denied, without a word
from him. He is not to be written down a
demagogue either by his friends or his
enemies.
AS. for the measure itself, 1t is both I'M
wise and ill-timed. 1t attempts to read
just the law to the reasonable require
ments of trade today. The author In his
statement virtually admits the impropri-
ETY. of thus attempting to amend the law
while it is undergoing a definitive inter-
probation by the Supreme Court. But, he
urges, the court has doubtless ere now
made up its mind, and only awaits the
formal transcription of the decision before
making it public. Why such haste? The
decision cannot well be delayed beyond
the present session Of Congress 1t may,
upon announcement, be of nature calling
for the amendment of the law, either to
make it more drastic more considerable
of the welfare of the corporations. 1t may
prove the inadequacy or the undue sever
ity of the statute Therefore 1t would
seem to be the part of wisdom to await
the precise terms of the decision before
attempting to amend the law as it stands,
in order to take advantage of the courts
declaration concerning what the law is and
its suggestions, if any, concerning what
the law ought to be.
Furthermore, the time is most unpropi-
tious for such an undertaking. presi-
Dental campaign Is about to open, in
which this issue will be conspicuous
There is no earthly prospect of the enact
ment of a measure Of this character, which
is evidently designed to soften the asperi-
ties of the Sherman law and to make the
ways of the trusts easier. The party
adopting such proposition, in the face of
the pronounced public sentiment against
the trusts, would deliberately invite disas-
ter