The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-21

NO VACATION FOR THE TRUSTS.
One day last week a. story was sent
out from New York saying that Wall
street had a tip that President Roose-
Welt would. in his Provincetown speech
Tuesday. call a halt to the further
prosecution of the trusts. on the
ground that they had been taught
lesson and would now be good.
This is what was referred to in the
Wall street attack on President Roose-
welt, quoted in these columns yester-
day, saying that "a reassuring state
ment from the president can have lit
tie weight now" Wall street evidently
had the tip.
But the tip was very remote from
the truth. If the corporations and
trusts can find anything in the presi-
dents speech yesterday to indicate
that he intends to ''let up on those
that have been disobeying the law,
they can find something that is hidden
from the public. On the contrary,
President Roosevelt took occasion en-
phatieally to deny the Wall street
story. During the eighteen months
that remain of his administration. he
says, there will be no change of policy.
The government will continue to en-
1--WE shall see," says the president, in
effect, whether the criminal rich,
with their corporations. are bigger
than the United States government"
President Roosevelt's address at
Provincetown. Mass. his first public
utterance for several weeks. followed
the principles of his former speeches. |
Taking the strict adherence to duty OF
the old-tirne Puritans as his text, he
advocated righteousness and honesty |
in business and government in our |
complex modern life. Incidentally he |
explains the difficulty which confronts
the government in enforcing the GRIM
inal law against individual trust mag |
mates, an explanation that was also |
made By Secretary Taft at Columbus. |
Juries will convict corporations, but |
they are slow to send the responsible |
heads of such corporations to jail.
Incidentally, also. the president
makes further reference to "undesir-
able citizens He says: There is
a certain number of our
fellow countrymen who seem to accept
the view that unless a man can be
proved guilty of some particular crime
he shall be counted a good citizen, no
!
led, no matter how pernicious his doc
trines or his practices. This is the
view announced from time. to time
With clamorous insistence, now by
group of predatory capitalists now by
L group of sinister anarchistic leaders
and agitators. whenever a special
champion of either class, no matter
1ow evil his general life, is acquitted
Of some one specific crime. Such a
view is wicked whether applied to
capitalist or labor leader, to rich man
or poor man."
President Roosevelt briefly reiter-
ties his former utterances in behalf of
/ national corporation law, requiring
Ill corporations doing an interstate
business to take out q federal charter.
Ir. Bryan also advocates this at pres
mt, but Secretary Taft does not be-
ieve it is essential. owing to a recent
decision of the United States supreme
court.
Mr.. Bryan would withhold licenses
rom illegal trusts. but Secretary Taft
points out that this would throw the
natter into the courts. and might
greatly clog the machinery of govern
nent. Judge Taft admits, however,
hat he was taken with the federal
license idea at first. He says:
THE suggestion of license came first ,
rom Mr.. Garfield and Mr. Bryan has
Ldopted it. I was at first inclined to
hink that this was a practical method, |
tut fuller consideration. for the rea-
ons given, makes me doubt. The
lecision of the supreme court that a |
corporation can not refuse to disclose
acts which will eliminate itself, | :
makes less important the advantage
which the license system was SuDposed
o furnish in keeping the business of =.
corporation under observation. Until l
t is clearer than at present that the
wills OF unlawful combinations can not !
'e suppressed without it, 1t seems to .
ne, such plan ought not to be tried" ;
This is in marked contrast to the !
epeated expressions of President I
Roosevelt. reiterated Immediately fol-
owing Secretary Taft's speech, declar-
% for q fedHraI i,anc.,.r,.o--n L.