New-York tribune., 1904-10-21
KNOX AT UNION LEAGUE.
ROOT PRAISES HIGGINS.
Senator Tells of Presidents Efforts
to Curb Trusts.

I attention and liberal applause to an address by
the Senator. uphOlding and praising President
Roosevelt for the enforcement of the Interstate
Commerce law and for his intervention in the
anthracite coal strike. Elihu Root, ex-Secre-
| tary OF War. also made brief speech to the
club. expressing confidence that President
| Roosevelt would be elected. but urging that no
effort should be spared to increase the vote for
the Republican ticket.
President Bliss Of the club escorted Senator
Knox to the clubs theatre soon after $3.50
o'clock. and they passed to the platform
there was continual applause. There was re-
newal of handcIapping when Mr.. Bliss said. in
| Producing the guest of the evening"
We have with us tonight fellow member OF
| the club who does not often have the oppor-
| tunity of visiting us here But his heart is al
ways with us l take great pleasure IN intro
| ducing 10 you Senator Philander c. Knox
Senator Knox first gave a recital of the facts
in regard to the passage OF the amendments TO
the Interstate Commerce act telling OF the
Presidents part in obtaining such legislation
| and then pressed nome the assertion that the
| Democrats in their platform had been advocating
what the Republicans already had accomplished
What he had to say about the Presidents course
called forth the heartiest applause.
In the same way Senator Knox described the
conditions which prevailed before the Presl-
cent interviewed in the anthracite coal strike,
the President to take action. which would have
been in violation of the Constitution. and then
brought out in strong way what the President
did to avert suffering to the public Senator
Knox said:
The organization OF the Northern Securities
Company in New-Jersey to hold the stock Of two
west the confirmation of the beef packers among
and a number Of other new Forms Of corporate ag-
gression Drought President KooseTeit; rshL upon F
With the question whether he would accept the
view that these new devices whose geadIy effect St
evident intention Of the law because. as their pro
interstate commerce. or because. as they were
created under the laws Of a state they were be-
advanced in their behalf
The President did not hesitate long in reaching
the administration was that the power OF Con- Con-
ana among the sa5 Snd % %f S KINDS o
traffic and its instrumentalites.
Thus matters stood in December 1902, when the
Vened The President announced his views Of the
supremacy Of the federal power tn respect Of CON- COM
foreign nations. lie had declared for the vitality
ne Of Congress udeT @ the Clause
OF the Constitution was not exhausted by the
provisions of that act. and he had caused to be
nf wbicb nvnVed new features either in the make
Of combinations or IN their effect upon COM
The first related to the monopoly produced by
secret and preferential rates for railroad trans
/
70 destroy such monopoly at the suit or the United
States the second to railroad traffic pooling and
combination of independent corporations TO fix and
maintain eXtortionate prices. and whether its op,
! eratOns wholly within State were so connected
with those between the states 70 bring the whole
under the regulative power of Congress, and the
| fourth 10 a corporation organized 10 merge into
itself the control Of parallel and competing lines Of
! ucn. and thereby nullify the act of Congress 10
| protect trade and commerce against unlawful re-
1t is within the bounds of conservative statement
q rd IaJE-
Very General attention and nter@s and # is mat
ter of history that Immediately upon the assem-
bling Of Congress numerous bills were presented in
Of the Presidents Conception Of the scope of con
| gressionaI power. These measures were, in the
| Committee upon the judiciary of the respective
| ney General was asked by the chairmen Of the
! spective committees for suggestions as to what
/ before consideration Of the various bills was
ttenon Of the President and We're tRe Subject t9 of
| long. ana earnest co9sderation They invited
/ view of what had been decided IN the courts and
necessity and desirability of further legislation
! Now, here was an opportunity for President
he had closed his aves and picked Al ranop from
gress he would likely have drawn one that vio-
lated the Constitution in several places That de-
! feet characterized many Of them.
! had the honor TO bs deputed by the President
| TO express the conclusions he had reached and did
/ so. 1t was stated TO be the Presidents view that
/ while efectqal measures should be taken to cor
! rect the tendency toward MONOPOLY vet even the
suggestion of legislation regulating the business
interests Of the country beyond the point necessary
/ 10 accomplish that end a thing to be avoided:
! that it was believed that monopoly in any in
| dustry would be impossible in this country where
within the rea IA Of keen and capable men, II COM
tected against unfair artificial and discriminating
practices. that a comprehensive plan should be
framed 10 enable the government to get all the
facts bearing upon the organization and practices
afa and Ora{pv
/ herce essential to a full understanding thereof.
! Another step IN legislation which earnestly
sion Of under a the e rPsta aM SRe na dse
The President thought it too much say that
! with these gaps closed the scheme of governmental
regulation would be complete, but that II was clear
/ ton. the enactment Of which would make a long,
first stride in advance
Every one Of the Presidents suggestions was
/ promptly acted upon and became a law before the
! expiration u that session OF Congress
! rnerce and Labor was created and in that depart
at the head cf which was placed a commissioner
in whom the power vested to make investiga-
ment Of the busin ssS Of all Gorporations % oEHt
stock &c ana TGTGgrae G0m6in3 tons
common carriers subject to the Interstate Com
merce law. which were already subject to a SINH
lar supervisory pOwer) and to gather such infor-
/ nation and data will enable the President to
legislation and 70 compel the giving Of aestiTnohv
/ and the producuo1 of such books and papers and
for the purposes Of investigation.
as the .Elkus law which amended the Interstate
Commerce law in several important particulars
This is splendid record OF constructive legisla-
What is the Democratic view Of these important
aeatc anu the SuO'e'' 10 which they
| DO they claim that the Republican administrator,
has gone far or is IL that We have not gone far
In the New-York platform of April 1s 1894
latform for which Mr.. Hin and Judge Parker are
said to be responsibie. and upon which Judge
cratic National Convention. a platform which by