Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-07-12
Alton B. Parker Comes IN
With a Few Remarks
TAKES EXCEPTION TO RECENT
SPEECH OF SECRETARY TAFT
Democratic Candidate Thinks Present
Move Against Trusts Could Have
Been Made Years Ago.

New York, July 11.-Former Judge
Alton b. Parker in statement given
out today took issue with some of the
utterances of Secretary of War Taft IN
the speech delivered at Greensbor-
ough, N. c., by Mr.. Taft last week
Mr.. Parker declares that the secretary
In his speech sought to have the public
draw the inference that the recent
prosecutions of illegal combinations
are due to new statutes. To this Judge
Parker takes exception and to support
his contentious he quotes from his
letter of acceptance and speech sub
sequently delivered during the last
presidential campaign. In both speech
and letter Judge Parker is quoted as
saying that the laws then on the stat
ute books were entirely adequate if
enforced.
Judge Parker in his statement says:
The Inference that Mr. Taft would
have the public draw from his utter
ances is that these things are
due to new statutes; that the
vlndication which the law is now
receiving is due to congressional
action since 1904. But this
is not so. Not one of the sue
cessful prosecutions for which the ex-
listing administration Is now entitled
to credit is based on any new statute.
Every single one of them down to this
date rests solely on the law as it stood
in 1904, and it should not be lost
sight of by discriminating public
that the law could have been en-
forced in 1904 and In 1903 and in
1902, just as we'll as today. Had II
been the wrongs from which the peo-
pie have suffered mould have not so
multiplied.
Secretary Taft's speech at Green.
borough, N. c." says Judge Parker,
was interesting throughout, but 1t
cannot be said that 1t was accurate
throughout / 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
porate abuse, that all that is lacking
Is an administration disposed to en-
force the law.
II said in the letter of acceptance,
under the title of Trust Remedies j
pointed out in my earlier response the
remedy which in my judgment can ef-
fectually be applied against monopo-
lies and the assurance was given that
If existing laws, including both statute
and common law, proved inadequate,
contrary to my expectations, | should
favor such further legislation within
constitutional limitations as will best
promote and safeguard the interests
of the people,
II emphasized the same throughout
the other occasions I'm public speech.
fa1 II N cnpnph jefferson
day, 1906, in which 1 said:
1.-The plain truth is that there has
been no time during the past eight
years since the abuses alleged became
so fragrant when they could not have
been eliminated. Nothing has been so
much needed as a rigid, honest, un-
Welding enforcement of the law both
civil and criminal. But | insisted IN
going on with the enforcement of the
law against rebates by putting the rail-
road officials responsible for them be-
hind the prison bars, precisely as we
do with other malefactors. Instead of
this their misconduct is made an ex-
cuse for further concentration of pow
er In the federal government
"It is argued by the administra-
tion and the railroad officials who
openly favor the movement, as well
as by those who are ostensibly opposed
to It. that the people in their just
Indignation at the wrongs done to the
MANY for the benefit of the few. Will
lose sight of the danger of so vast a
Capitalization of power until IT is TO
late to check II. But we should never
forget that the safety of our institu-
tions is involved in every such move-
ment, and instead Of submitting to It,
l should insist that when trust or d
railroad has violated the criminal law
the place for the guilty official Is N
iail or the penitentlary, not In the
cabinet nor in the board rooms 0f
great insurance company We tI
not defend or excuse any wrongs, but
we must insist upon the truth of the
maxim that Two wrongs do not max,
a right
until after this last utterance nc
visible action had been taken by al
administration that had been in power
for four years to check corporate AM
trust abuses by an appeal to the erin
inal courts.
"If such steps were taken, and
must submit that the result proves the
truthfuiness of the assertion ofte.
made by me, that we have an abun
dance of law TO put an end to all OF
fenses against the public by the Off
GERS OF the trusts ana great corpora
tlOns Of the country
"The administration has now dis
covered not only that there Is an Ell
forceable law against the giving OF re
bates, a law adequate to check illega
combinations, but that the persons en-
gagged In it's violation can be punished
for It. The recent decisions OF tn
courts, the large fines imposed in case
of conviction, the threatened proceed
ings In every section of the country
ali demonstrates that the law is am
long has been adequate to stop OF
lenses against the public.
"The decisions OF the United Stats
courts, beth civil and criminal, dur
ing the past year are appealed to !
decisive Of the question AZ to whethe
Secretary Taft or myself Is right"