The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-06-15
ROOSEVELT AND THE TRUSTS.


Nobody can say, because Mr-Roose
yeit himself has mutable convictions
on the subject. When he began his
Western tour a year or so ago, he
declared that the only solution was
10 have an amendment 20 the consu-
tuition passed. He was clearly OF the
opinlon that existing laws did not
meet ne requirements Of the case.
and we're not enforceable. 1t was
apparent. however to every sensible
man in the republic that an amend.
ment TO the constitution was not
feasible. Mr Roosevelt was readily
convicted Of fitting at wind mills, and
ne was compelled TO change his tao
tics.
Then be advanced the wierd idea
that there were good and bad trusts
and that only the latter ought 10 Doc
suppressed or controlled OF course
this was intended as a sop 10 the oc.
topus The I'g combinations were
becoming alarmed az the spectacle Df
the president OF the United states ao.
ing about, crusadng against trusts
They knew. of course, that bis no
tmm4 W,r, gaIuDI,ss and that De-
would never suppress any of them
But ho was disturbing industrial con
ditions without offering any tangible
remedy lie occupied the attitude Of
one who caused a bootIcss panic.
Somebody evidently gave him talk
ing to. and hc originated his gauly
declaration about the good and bad
trusts OF course any sane man
could see that the odly question In
yolyci was whether combination
violated the law or not Every trust
in the country looks upon itself as ir.
spircd by the spirit OF righteousness,
but If it violates the law, it is a bad
trust. and that's air there is TO it. Mr.
Roosevelt declaration was OIL
course. mere subtcrmgc with which
he expected TO regain the favor OF.
the octopus.
Then Mr. Roosevelt became COM
mttcd 10 the idea of publicity, and a
special bureau was created TO bring
about this disidcraum but it has
been so far a monumental failure Au
solutcly nothing has been accomplish.
ed.
The adverse decision against the
Northern Securities company can not
be credited 10 Theodore Roosevelt
The man who began the litigation
was Governor Van Zandt The courts
forced it into the puryiew Of the faa
eral government Mr. Roosevelt was
compelled to take it mp and The su
prcme court did the rest But. al.
though Mr. Roosevelt ie credited with
being a trustbuster. this IS the on.
ly combination that be has had a
hand In disrupting. The meat trust.
the anthracite trust. the coal oil
trust and the sugar comblna.
tons that affect the people directly
have gone unwhlpped OF justice.
The best answer TO the claim that
Mr. Roosevelt is a relentless enemy
Of the trusts is to be founa in a bricf
statistical compendium:
Capitalization Of industrial trusts
formed before Mr. Cleveland retired
from oflce, sS3OOoOOOO
capitalization of industrial trusts
under William Mckinley about 80,
l77OOO
capitalization Of industrial trusts
already formed, and or trusts ,n pro.
cess of reorganization under Theo-
dore Roosevelt, $il9S, ,OoO.0oo
Il Mr. Roosevelt were sucn a re-
lcntlcss enemy Of the trusts. it is
singular that twice as much comhI-
nation should have been made under
his administration as under that OF
President Mckinley, and that th,
capitalization of the trusts under hi
regime should exceed by nearly 81
2oooouooo. the combined capitallza-
tion of alI the trusts formed prcyl
o"s 'p The TING when ho became pres
ident
that the conservative business In.
tercstg of the country can have NO.
confidence in Roosevelt is easily eN
planci He is a dlsmrbor and 4
stroycr OF pc. liar confidence, and
while the trusts have nothing to fear
from Roosevelt in the way of sup
preston, his errauc course has had
disastrous effect on stocks and has
caused deterioration amounting &c
billions Of dollars,-Commercial Ap
peal