Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-07-19
LAWS SUFFICIENT
Judge Alton B. Parker Takes Issue
With Utterance Of Secretary
Taft at Greensboro.
PROSECUTIONS DELAYED,
Bucc essfuI Suits Against Corpora
lions and Railroads Were Based
on Laws in Existence
Prior to 1904.

New York, July 12.-Former Judge
Alton B. Parker, in a statement given
out Wednesday, took issue with some
Of the utterances Of Secretary Of War
Taft in the speech delivered at Green's
boro, N. G., by Mr.. Taft last Monday,
Judge Parker declares that the secre-
tary in his speech sought to have the
public draw the inference that the re-
cent prosecutions Of alleged illegal
combinations are due to new statutes
To this Judge Parker takes exception
and to support his contention he quotes
from his letter of acceptance and a
speech subsequently delivered during
the last presidential campaign, In
both the speech and the letter Judge
Parker is quoted as saying that the
laws then on the statute books were
entirely adequate II enforced.
Judge Parker in his statement says;
1.-THE inference that Secretary Taft
would have the public draw from his
utterances is that these things are due
to new statutes; that the vindication
which the law is now receiving Is due
to congressional action since 1904. But
that is not so. Not one Of the success
full prosecutions for which the exist
ing administration is now entitled 70
credit is based on any new statute.
Every single one of them down to this
date rests solely upon the law as II
stood in 1904, and 1t should not be lost
sight of by a discriminating public that
the law could have been enforced In
1904 and In 1903 and in 1902, just as
well as to-day. Had 1t been the wrongs
from which the people have suffered
would not have 80 multiplied"
Secretary Tafts speech at Green's
boro. N. c." says Judge Parker, was
interesting throughout, but y can
not be said that 1t was accurate
througout. | shall only refer to the
statement in which he alluded to the
position taken by me in the campaign
of 1904 in substance and effect that
we have law enough to stop every cor
porauye abuse; that all that Is lack
ing is an administration disposed to
enforce the law.
81 said in the letter of acceptance
under the title Of trust remedies !
pointed out In my earlier response
the remedy which in my judgment
Ican effectually be applidl against
monopolies and the assurance was CIV"
en- that II existing laws, including
both statute and common law, proved
Inadequate. contrary to my expecta-
tIons. | favor such further legislation
IN constitutional limitations as will
best promote and safeguard the inter-
ests OF ell the people
81 emphasized the same thought on
other occasions in public speech. l
reiterated It in a speech on Jefferson
day. 1905. in which said: The
plain truth Is that there has been no
time during the past eight years since
the abuses alleged became nagrant
when they could not have been elimin-
ated., Nothing has been 30 much
needed as a rigid. honest, unyieldinG
enforcement OF the law, potn ciVh ana
criminal. But instead Of going on
with the enforcement Of the law
against rebates BY putting the railroad
ofsclais responsible for them behind
the prison bars precisely as We 90
other maiefactors, their misconduct
q made an excuse for further con
centratIon Of power in the federal
government BY the ofaceI OF ne
trusts and great corporations Of the
countTT.