Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-14
PRESIDENT GRATIFIED
FORAKER REGARDS IT AS ADMIN.
ISTRATIoN AND PARTY VICTORY.
Pointed Out That Three of the Dis
senting Supreme Court Justices
Are Democrats.

gagged at the time in a conference with
some friends but he put aside all else to
express his satisfaction that the court had
sustained the contentious of the govern
ment. Later he will express his personal
congratulations to Attorney General Knox,
The news of the decision spread through
the Capitol like a flash and was the subject
OF interested discussion in all the cloak
rooms and Hobbies. Very few senator's or
representatives happened to be present in
the court room when the decision was
handed down, and therefore the general
knowledge of the scope of the decision was
not understood by them.
Congressman contented themselves, how.
ever, with the information that the govern
ment had won in this great case and had
announced a decision against trusts and
combinations in more sweeping and far
reaching terms than 1t had ever been an
nounced before, because word to that effect
came out from the court before Justice Har-
Ian concluded his reading.
Political Effect of Decision.
congressman were more interested in the
political effect of the decision than in any,
thing else. Republicans were intensely jubi-
liant. 1t is evident that the republicans will
claim the utmost credit for the decision. 1t
is a fact that the Sherman law was passed
by republican Congress, was enforced by a
present case was expedited and rushed to
the Supreme Court through additional legis-
lation recommended by republican execu-
tive and enacted by a republican Congress.
The significant fact was POINTED out by
politicians today that three dissenting JUS
tices-Peckham, White and Fuller-were
democrats and it was limited that political
capital probably will be attempted to be
made of that fact.
Senators and representatives were not
inclined to be interviewed at length upon
the decision because they had not heard
it, and were not aware of the opinions ex-
pressed bv the dissenters
Senator Foraker's View
THE country has been looking for de-
cision something like this said Senator
Foraker when asked for an interview by a
Star reporter this afternoon. II was not
in the court, and did not hear the opinion.
am glad that the court took the view
which it did.
+ Looking at the decision in It's possible
political effect, 1 regard it as a great vic
tory for the administration and for the
publican party. The effect upon the coun-
try certainly must be among all fair
minded men to give the republican admin
istration credit for enforcing the law which
was on the statute books while the demo-
Gratis were in power, but which was never
invoked by a democratic Attorney General
at the request of the democratic executive"
Reluctant to Express Opinion.
Senator Spooner heard a part of the de-
cision. but when seen by Star reporter
said that he would not care to give any
opinion on it until he had read the fun
decision.
Senator German was much interested in
the opinion as rendered by the court, but
he also declined to give any expression as
to the scope of the opinion Or its effect in
political matters.
Senator Newlands remarked that he
might at some future time have something
IN a n n q
he could not at this time make any ex-
preston concerning it.
Senator Daniel also declined to express
any opinion OF 1t.
Senators Hansbrough, Mitchell, Alice,
Clark of Montana and others were seen by
a Star reporter, but in each case they ex-
pressed an unwillingness to discuss either
the opinion or its effects until they should
have had an opportunity to read 1t.
Importance of the Decision
There was great disinclination on the
part of senators to comment for pub,ica-
tion on the decision Very generally its I'm
portance was regarded as very great. not
only in it's relation to the merger suit.
but in relation to various schemes for
combinations that may come up IN the fu-
ture.
Some senators referred to the possible
effect of the decision in later on causing the
bureau Of corporations of the Department
of Commerce and Labor to become active.
NO 1mmedlate result or tnlS KIND Is dntlcf-
pa ted. however, but many senators believe
that the decision will not only have great
effect on some of the large corporations
that are now doing business, but will also
have tendency to encourage suits against
corporations that have not been so promi-
nently before the public eye.
Effect on Illegal Combinations.
Representative Serene E. Payne of New
York, chairman of the ways and means
committee and leader of the republicans In
the House, in an interview with a Star
reporter this afternoon said:
''The fact that since this suit was COM
menced there has been practically complete
cessation of the exploitation of trusts and
absolutely none has been formed where the
exploiters were attempting to sell wind
and water for stock, is indication that the
decision of today will put an enectual QUIZ
etus on that sort of business enterprise in
the future.
ut is gratifying to republicans to reflect
that this antitrust law was of republican
origin; that the amendments to 1t were
added by a republican Congress, and that
the extraordinarily large fund appropriated
to carry on this suit was the work of a re-
publican Congress.
Credit Given to the President.
IF any one man is entitled to more credit
than another for this result and for the sue
cess of the undertaking against the trusts
it is Theodore Roosevelt. 1t was he who
started the prosecution and who has stood
steadily for the enforcement of the law.
.'The decision Is a ratification of the re-
publican policy of this Congress of standing
pat on legislation already enacted on the
trust question. The laws are upheld and
the result proved the wisdom of our prev
fous legislation this subject"
AS the information spread throughout the
Capitol that three dissenting justices were
democrats there was much rejoicing among
republicans, who imagined that they saw In
ttis fact good opportunity for strengthen
ing their claims that this was republican
decision in every way even to the point OF