Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-27
CAPITAL CHAT.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

in., During the past six or eight
months he has had supervision over
the preparation Of civil and criminal
suitc against the Standard Oil Com
Uany ana has made all the cases ready
for the eye of the Attorney General.
He knows how to get evidence. II
aware what evidence is necessary in Il
piycn case, and can also get it into
rcsrntiblc form.
Accordingly as Senator Foraker de-
cIares to the country that the evidence
On which the President acted was i'll
sufficient, the President proposes 10
navn the evidence gathered in affidavit
form by an expert. lie could not have
set n more expert official at the work.
l:r!css perhaps, he wished to send one
Of his own cabinet. Mr.. Purdy mas
been travelling to l;roWnsvillc, Texas,
~ the swift"st possible trains. He VIII
work with al the energy there Is ~
him, for the President wants the cNl-
icncr back h.rc and ready Tor use -
January next, which is the day Whrh
Congress rrasscmbes ana when soma
tor Foraker is expected to open again
with his legal rapid fire batteries.
III the meantime Senator Foraker il
Iro pairing himself for the clash. He
Ain have 10 fight single handed. Some
Senators will come to his aid, but in
the main hc must rely upon himself.
He will hardly shrink from the test
for ne loves a fight. The Senate
probably has no lawyer able TO coop
With him and that is decidedly 70 his
advantages. Eut back Of the President
and back of the Senators who support
him are Il trio Of very astutc lawyers
Secretaries Root and Taft and Attor-
mcy General Bonaparte. Their for
tunes arc with the President in this
matter. II is To their interest, almost
as much as to the Presidents u do
senator Foraker good and hard. The
President is not Il lawyer, although he
mas acquired Il lot Of legal acumen
since he took ND the trust cases. His
advisers. Of course, can he depended 70
supply him with advice and strategy
IN meeting the aggressive Ohioan.
The spectacular part OF the con-
troversy for a time will be in the SEN
ate. But the fight will almost certain
III be transferred from thai forum 70
an investigation committee. Wit
III ss"s will be- summoned. Senator
Foraker will undoubtedly be at the
table to examine and cross examine
and there will be a struggle for the
kernels of truth. Capt. Bill Melon
nld Of tie Texas Rangers. who t1kc:
the Presidents side Of the affair. has
annpunccd that he would so forty
miles out of his way 10 be cross oX-.
amincG by Senator Foraker. "Bill' is
a s,reat character and sharp Of tongue.
It would be a great scene with Senator
Forakcr plying, him with questions and
"Bill'' giving ii back to him With all
the spirit Of the freedom loving Texan.
The Senate investigating committee
will almost certainly call Bill 10 90
> 600 miles cut Of his way by coming TO
Washington. which win be all the more
agreeable to "iii!l' because he will
have milcacc-a fit considcra tion-;ild
Il chance to visit the National Capital
The Investigation is likely to last
through much of the session OF Con
grcss, il there is an investigation and
many are now convinced that there
viii be one. With such political giants
| in oruosing roles. none OF them Is like
II t. rest till The last resource mas
been exhausted If Senator Foraker
can bring it out that most Of the col
ore,i soldiers are innocent or that all
nf them are Notwithstanding rs
docs not now and never has claimed
with any cortainty-he will hav"
proved that the President did not pro-
coed rs carefully and as thoroughly az
~ should have done. Then the ONO
Senator and his friends would be tri-
umohant. But if the investigation
fails to develop any additional evidence
81 importance ara the President sus-
tains his case he will have the laugh
On the Buckeye lawmaker and big
figure in Republican politics. who is
credited with ambitions to reach the
White House, will have reverse.