The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

Representative W R. Smith. of the Six
teenth Texas district. doesn't believe that
Charles J, Bonaparte, as Attorney Cen
eral. viii set the world afre by his attl-
tude toward the trusts
4 notice" said Judge Smith, yesterday.
that in to-day's issue of The Washing
ton Herald it is stated, in commenting
upon the appointment Of Secretary Bona
parte to the Office Of Attorney General.
that apparently, his appointment has
met with larger measure of popular
favor than any other Cabinet shift made
by Mr.. Roosevelt; that the people who
are aroused over the trust question are
!. looking for a great and notable perform
8 ance by Mr.. BOnaparte in his prOsecu-
Ntion of trusts. mainly because they have
been led to believe that, whatever his
ability as lawyer may be, he can be de-
pended upon TO go after every 'hoggish
trust magnate in dead earnest, and not
be swerVed a hairs breadth by any sort
or form Of political consideration.
7. for one. would like to know what
Mr.. Bonaparte has ever said or done TO
cause the people who are aroused over
or notable performances by Mr.. Bona
parte in the prosecution Of trusts. unless
he has radically changed his views upon
this subject since the meeting OF the trust
conference in Chicago in September, 1889.
i warn the people now that they need not
expect any performances-notab or
otherwise-by Mr.. BOnaparte in the prose
cution Of trusts. Mr.. Bonaparte made a
speech before that congress, in which he
took the position that the trust question
would regulate itself, and he opposed any
legislation upon the subject.
Mr.. smith Wants TO Know.
= In discussing the tendency toward
s combination as an inevitable feature of
our civilization, he said that we could
not prevent it except at the price of lib
erty and civilization. He declared also
that 'emphaucally no legislative action in
regulation or restraint of combination,
whether by Congress or State legislature.
IS desirable and that any attempt at
such legislation would be highly de-
moralizing to all concerned, for the prac-
teal results, except in the levy OF black
mall would be altogether nugatory.'
What we people who are stirred up
over the trust question would ike to
know" said Judge Smith, SIS, VIII Mr..
Bonaparte endeavor to enforce the Sher-
man antitrust law. believing. as he does.
that such action upon his part would be
at the price Of liberty and civilization
or viii he endeavor to preserve our lib
erty and civilization by refusing to en-
force that law?
NO one can doubt that Mr.. Bonaparte's
appointment ought to be highly satisfac-
tory 10 the trusts" concluded the Texas
Congressman, but how his appointment
can be satisfactory to those whom the
trusts plUnder is not so clear
The paragraph in Secretary Bonaparte's
speech 20 which Judge Smith refers was
as follows
'Emphaticaily, no legislative action in
regulation or restraint of combinations.
whether by Congress or State legislature.
IS desirable. Our public men with, need
not say. some honorable eXCeptiOns) are
wholly unht 10 deal with any such mat
ters. The attempt viii be highly demoral-
izing 10 all concerned the practical re-
suits Except in the levy of blackmaD
altogether nugatOry.'
Can't Prevent Combinations.
In opening his speech, Mr.. Bonaparte
said:
I regard the tendency Of combination
as an inevitable feature of modern civil
ization from which no free and enlight-
ened country can escape, and which has
force in proportion 10 each cOuntry's free
dom and enlightenment It does not fol-
low from this that regard it as a good
thing, for consider it complete falIacy
that all the changes brought about by
modern civilization have been for the bet
ter; not "A few OF them are, to my mind,
distinctly harmful I am not, however,
prepared 10 say that this tendency is
harmful; il has a good side and a bad
side, and there IS the less reason TO make
up our minds as to its merits, because,
whatever we may think. we cannot pre-
vent il. except AT the price Of liberty and
civilization