The Washington times., 1905-12-25
TRUST CAMPAIGN
MAY PERPETUATE
ROOSEVELT REIGN
Viewed as Possible Out
come of Move Against
Corporations.
BIG FIRMS DETERMINED
Meat People and Standard
Oil Will Fight to
Finish.
BIG FIRMS DETERMINED

II is now recognized that a great
stake is being played for in the prosecu-
ton OF the beef trust already in prog
ress and the contemplated prosecution
of the Standard Oil Company. which is
expected soon TO be undertaken.
In short. these prosecutions are TO
determine whether there is enough law
on the books at present TO enable the
Government 10 control the great financial
and industrial aggregations so far as
Government control is necessary or de-
sirabie
1t is considered extremely doubtful
whether any very satisfactory results
will be secured from these prosecutions.
The beef trust people are makins plain
that they will employ every resource of
law. will take advants ge of every tech
nicality. and will secure every possible
delay
They will lead the Government a long
and hard chase before they permit it
TO interfere effectually with their meth
DDS of doing business. and it is hardly
necessary 10 say that the Standard Oil
Company will not be one whit behind
them In resourceful defense.
One Battle Won.
The Government has won one great
battle under antitrust laws, that against
the Northern Securities Company. But
the results have been of little apparent
value. Hill continues to control abso-
lutely the consolidated railroads, and
there is no evidence that the great COM
binations headed by Cassatt and Harri-
man are IN any danger of attack II
the beef and oil prosecutions produce
no more substantial results and II rate
legislation does not come and bring
with IL effective curtailment OF corpor-
ate powers. then the antitrust campaign
must enter on q new phase.
politically the possibilities Of this new
phase are vast. President Roosevelt is
not expected TO give up his fight without
getting results. If he fails to make
present laws serve his ends. then it is
fully expected that he will demand more
laws and very likely some carefully con-
sidered constitutional amendments. II
he does those recommendations will de-
termine the issues of the next Presi-
Dental campaign; and already there is
serious discussion of the effect such a
movement will have in the national con-
ventions Of 1905. That Roosevelt NAV be
forced into the field as a candidate 10
succeed himself is the obvious possi-
bility. widely recognized and freely dis
cussed by politicians.
Big Issue Proposed.
Naturalization of corporations is one
CT the means suggested for giving the
Federal Government a grip on them
by which IL may force them TO accept
fair measure OF Government control.
Failure 10 achieve results through the
less radical methods that are now being
tried out would bring this proposal to
the front, and il would mean a long and
haro fight No man in the Republican
party can hardly claim so large a capi-
tai OF public confidence in his position
and flghting ability as Roosevelt.
So there is endless discussion Of the
possibility Of a long era OF Roosevelt
ism One theory which has been brought
out lately is that the President may in
sist on standing by his promise not to
DC candidate sgain in 19OS, but may in
stead undertake 10 force his partv IN
nominate man OF his selection. nrsfer-
ably Taft. az his successor. This is the
common political explanation OF MS
struggle Tor the overthrow OF Odell in
New YORK state and The fSta blishroerr
OF his supporters IN State control
With the Empire State in his control.
and the reasonable assurance that he
could dictate i5s support OF his candi-
date for the 1893 nomination the cbancea
of Taft would look decidedly better than
they Go now. Ohio's politicians could
hardly refuse a delegation 10 an Ohio
an already started of with such a DOW
erful support
Roosevelt for Senate.
The next suggestion is that the Presi-
dent would like 10 come to the Senate
from New York, after 1908; and finally.
il is very generally believed that. even
IL he feels bound 10 refuse a 1908 nomi-
nation Mr.. Roosevelt would not consid-
er himself bound TO reject II in 1912.
Thus there is ahead the possibility Of
nearly twelve years Of domination OF
national Republican policies by the
Roosevelt group Of men and the Roose-
welt set of ideas. Such an ambitious
plan. indeed. viii not be executed with
out first overcoming terrific opposition
but the radical Republicans insist that
the time, after All, would be none too
long 10 accomplish the great works
that are ahead.
After the rate regulation and corpora
tiOn control issues are disposed OF, there
is still the tariff question The next
tariff is likely 10 be the law OF the land
for many years. and IL is likely To be
prepared with reference 10 the new in
dustrial and financial conditions that
will succeed on the adoption OF rate
legislation. Its making will be q huge
task. even after the dominant party is
sQuareiy committed TO II.
NOTHING TO EAT BUT COCOANUTS
VICTORIA. b. c.. Dec. 25.-The steam
ship Miowera which arrived from Aus
tralia. reports that when she arrived