The Washington times., 1904-03-24
Mr.. SHAW SCORES
GROVER CLEVELAND
Secretary Replies to the
Merger Interview.
OPENS RHODE ISLAND FIGHT
Punctures Usage of Princeton's" Claim
That He Sought to Proceed
Against Trusts.

PROVIDENCE. r. l.. March 24-The
Republican national campaign in Rhode
Island was opened last night by Secre-
tary Leslie NJ. Shaw and Senator Nelson
W. Aldrich. principal speakers at the
banquet of the Young Mems Republican
Club. in Infantry Hall
The attitude Of former Presidents Gro
yer Cleveland in regard to trust Iegls-
iation constituted the principal points
Of Secretary Shaw's address. while SEN
ator Aldrich tried to impress upon his
hearers the necessity of organized ef-
fort in order to insure party success.
Secretary Shaw said in part:
No sooner was the result Of the mer-
ger case announced than the opposition
inaugurated tactics to rob the Admin
istration Of the fruits OF its victory
Some demanded the institution of SINH
lar suits against every large business
and producing enterprise and every. con-
solidation OF railroad interests.
An Amusing Effort.
The most amusing effort to avoid a
comparison of Republican and Demo.
cratic Administrations. to the great ad-
vantage of the former. appears in a
recent interview by ex-President CIeve-
land. He seeks 10 explain why moth
ing was done in his Administration. and
he places the responsibility therefor
upon the courts and the Constitution,
ana upon the fact that the Northern
Securities Company was not organised
curing his Administration.
Mr.. Cleveland ia his last message
preceding the campaign of 1888, refers
10 the existence of combinations fire.
quently called trusts. and closes with
this sage conclusion.
The people can hardly hope for any
IL ri #rs.,
selfish schemes
He recommends no relief and suggests
no remedy Nevertheless Congress ap-
pointed commission 10 investigate he
subject. The purpose of the commission
was TO convince the people thar fbpfr
interests We're not being neglected and
II MI Cleveland was reelected some
remedial legislation would follow.
Failed to Connect.
Mr.. Cleveland was not reelected. how
ever. ou- when Congress reconvened. in
paragraph of five lines. ne refers 10
the subject OF trusts, and closes with
this sad and terrifying announcement:
Corporations. which should be care
fully restrained creatures OF the law
and the servants of the people are fast
becoming the peoples masters But
he recommends no relief and suggests
no possible way Of ESCAPE.
And now I want TO refer to the Ian
guage Of AR. Cleveland's explanation
cor the neglect Of his administration.
''rGs-g0estion of the Government TAX
Inc legal action against The so-calIed
trusts was given much consideration
during my last administration. 1 recall
l5it examined closely the law and re-
ceiVed reports from Mr.. Olaev. who was
lhen Attorney General was most
ANXIOUS 10 have something done but
we were blocked b} decisions OF the Su-
IfelIe court. which ut that time tied
our hands. The decisions OF the
Supreme Court. as pointed ont i'm nv
message. restricted our action AGAINST
trusts unless they were engaged in In
tttsttte tfi-nSpCrtdllOn- There was q
olSuLet- difference drawn between rail-
roads and purely producing combiua-
tons. II could NOT be said taat the
SuSar trust or tho Beef trust or the
Standard on Company was directly en-
EaSed IN Interstate transpoT % ton"
What Knox Has Done.
think Mr. Cleveland has overlooked
the fact that Attorney General Knox
has at this time or injunction in fun
force against seven corporations. one CO.
partnership. ard tweaty-thrce iudivlI-
3-a.ls engaged in tie production and
transportation Of meats and meat BRO
cucts, restraining them from recurring
their purchasing agents % refrain from
bidding against eacn other when max
ing purchases from agreeing between
themselves upon prices 70 be adopted by
al, and from restricting The Quantities
OF meat 10 be shipped
IN the closing paragraph OF Mr. Cieve-
land interview he takes no small
Lalns 70 explain why nothing was done
during has administration. and by so
doing lncOrses, in The most emphatic
language. what has been done bv his
successors. Without admitting the suf-
Ecleucy OF his explanation. IL Is quite
gr0uiying 20 have so distinguished r.
person unquaiihedly approve the iustI-
tuition, the prosecution, and the result
of the merger case.