The independent., 1905-08-17
PAGE Q

ing strike balance that will permit him to stand pat the
execabe Morton decision and give him freedom for
political purposes the .bg stick at the
In number Of his speeches the president has told how
difficult il is for the deal with the awdeing trusts
AT Chautauqne n " most gngerly ye he suggested that
congress well inquire whether should seek other
Of carrying effect the law He thinks that perhaps publicity
the trick if suppose try other Perchance
we shall be able some time and in to make the trusts
squrm
But the startling and the the deporabe
statement yet made by President Roosevelt contained
words The has very properly exercised moderation
in attempting enforce the criminal provisions of the statute
The president speaking the Sherman antitrust law, which
has criminal provision that should be enforced with much fidelity
other portion of the law This theory that
exercise moderation in the enforcement Of law essentially
vicious It akin the theory that laws may be beray
terpeed, which saying that the will Of the people
shall be deed that only such portions Of the laws adopted by the
people shall be enforced with the approval of the executive
power It the old aacy preferential treatment for favored
feW And the chief executive seeks elevate this detestae
falacy the status of political doctrine Hitherto the strong
have seized special privileges without seeking defend them
rights Their action has been brutal codbooded defiant but
has been frank has not sought shelter itself behind the
hypocrisy Of all the law for the poor and weak and part the law
for the rich and mighty Candid robbery always preferable
pous fraud President Roosevelt deudes himself he thinks
possible for him by sheer eeraton make this pious political
fraud doctrine of government.
Those wlo months ago. willing to support the presi-
dent loyalty because they believed him be favor Of
troll and railway regulation but view with disgust his change
Of position Roosevelt is finding that San Juan Hill poor
test Of compared relentless and unfnchng
corporation tyranny Who is he that cay with certainty
this time where Roosevelt stands the question railway regua
ton One day ne to be III favor of giving the interstate
commission the power fix and the day
vaguely advocating mkandwater scheme of government
supervision
When Roosevelt police in New York city
years ago he apostle of law enforcement The rigid
Raine law had been passed by the legislature and Roosevelt
insisting that be enforced the letter. He tramped the
late at night going into obscure Of the great metropolis
that liquor sold after hours and that free lunches
polluted the side tables of owly Not theatre, big little
opened its doors Sunday because Theodore Roosevelt wanted the
law enforced without the least moderation
But the president radical today He shudders the
word drastic and in his Chautauqua speech he declared that if
drastic legislation should be proposed he would be hostile it.
The drastic police has become the moderate president
The advocate of law enforcement has become the special peer for
the powerful criminal
The president expressed the belief that if normal commercial
conditions restored he able and the fortunate
would be more benefited than present under the regime Of special
privilege. Continuing, he said:
I under such circumstances the less fortunate is moved
BY the his brother strike the conditions
under which they have bo though unequay proered he
assured while the result be damaging the other
Will be damaging to himself"
may be assumed that the president when he uttered the fore
going wod did not know that he grossly insulting the Ame
By that