New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
PRESIDENT AND LAW.
Mr.. BONAPARTE SPEAKS.
Don't Choose Head Watchdog
Wh0m WOLVES FAVOR, He Says.

Chicago. Dec. 21--Attorney General Charles
J. Bonaparte the principal speaker at the
dinner given by the Illionis Athletic Club in
honor Of its officers tonight.
Mr.. Bonaparte. after conveying the Presidents
regrets at not being able to attend. said that he
spoke for no one but himself. For my many
sins OF commission and omission Attorney
General he said, the President must bear his
share Of responsibility. but for my faults as a
post-prandial orator it would he hard to hold
him to blame" The subject OF NIr. Bonaparte's
address was obstacles to the Execution Of the
Laws" and he quoted from that part OF the
Constitution wherein it says. "he shall take care
that the laws be faithfully executed" This duty.
he said, probably the most important and
most clearly vital to the peoples happiness and
safety of all the Presidents duties, but, he
added. ''if when he seeks to fulfil it. stumbling
block is placed in his path; If the faithful execu-
ton Of the laws is made difficult or uncertain IN
whatever measure or from whatever cause, the
American people should be plainly told that the
American people may find and apply remedy"
Mr.. Bonaparte said it had been his experience
as Attorney General that some people think, or
talk and write as though the law specially
enlpted them. and added:
In the Eastern states any enforcement OF fed
eral statutes forbidding conspiracies in restraint
of trade or favoritism by common carriers Is
greeted by chorus of walls as ''unSettlng buSi-
ness" and breeding or keeping alive panics. In
certain Western and Southwestern states the
prosecution Of men who have acquired vast
tracts of public lands through fraud and per
jury in plain violation of law and with enormous
profit to themselves is flercely denounced as q
persecution" OF prominent" and public spfr-
tied" citizens. Finally, in some Southern states
attempts to bring to punishment under the laws
Of the United States forbdding peonage those
who virtually enslave helpless negroes and no
less helpless foreigners provoke like outcry.
SOME CRITICS VIEW OF Law.
In all these cases alike the idea underlying the
complaint an idea often more or less concealed
by sophistry and falsehood. is that laws, or
some laws, not really intended to be really
obeyed by some people. These critics might
perhaps consent that some show of enforcing
such laws should be made After tedious and
expensive inquiry has shown clearly that a
wrong had been committed, the Culprit may be
called to answer for IL, but When he shows, by
way OF answer. that he IS captain OF IN
least, a leading citizen" in other words, that
he is rich or otherwise influential. they would
have him go unpunished, or. at worst, escape
with sham penalty about as Formidable as
burning with q cold iron
Now, in our country neither the President
fully. or execute them at all unless the Amer
lean people wishes them executed II 1t be
truly the peoples wish that any laws or that
all laws shall become dead letters whenever
rich or influential men find their faithful execu-
tion q source of loss or danger TO themselves.
then such laws not be and Will not be en-
forced against such men But l. for one, pc
lieve firmly that the people have no ouch wish
and believe further that practically every one
else believes about this as do. SO that the very
men who raise these misleading clamors do not.
because they dare not. say plainly what they
mean and what they think. l believe that II
they said this SO that 1t could be understood
they and every else well would learn
quickly and Enthusiastically that the people think
and wish nothing OF the sort; Americans, as
nation, think their laws are meant 70 be obeyed
by all alike, by the ricn no less than by the the
ignorant Moreover they wish and intend their
laws to be thus obeyed. and that the richest law
a-gst ton,
through a trust" shall find no greater favors
from courts juries public prosecutors than
or sends obscene matter through our mails.
The danger in this respect Is that the people
may be deceived; and in fact. l believe that a
widespread, persistent systematic and unscru-
pulous attempt TO deceive tlle people as to these
things has been in progress during the entire
ton and is in progress to-day.
APPLICATION OF 4 FABLE.
After relating 41sop's story OF the wolves
persuading the sheep TO send away their watch
dogs, Mr.. Bonaparte said:
Just now the denizens OF that great sheepfold.
the American Union. are beginning 10 turn their
thoughts TO the grave problem OF choosing
head watch dog to guard them for four years
cannot help thinking II may aid them in THIS
weighty task to establish. first of all. negative
test OF fitness. Whatever applicant Tor the )op
is viewed with particular favor by the wolves
may well be left in his home kennel: wolves can
be trusted 10 know what they want ana 10 want
e,1age no man can be safely trusted TO take
care that the laws be faithfully executed II ms
choice be longed for and urged by all or many
of those who have obstructed the faithful exc
cution Of the same laws in the past, and whose
influence and resources are formidable oostdcies
to their faithful execution to-day.
/ have said that many attempts nave pten
made and daily being made SO to Inlslead
public opinion as TO these matters that IL ma!
he q hindrance, not q help in the enforce1nent
of the laws My attention has been called to
ono espedient In this scheme Of deception which
ing suits under the Sherman anu-uust act IDS a
recently shown the public what hao oeen ios
sorna time well known to the Department OF
Justice that many establishments and enter
nrises widely and emphatically advertising
themselves as "indePenoent OF an russ Is bicp
simply branches of the very trust 70 which
they profess deadly enmity; the trust IN cues
ton by this imposture, not only cioahs lle coIn
pIeteness OF its monopoly but cyhlcaHy HldheS HI
r,rofit ont of its own unpopularity. L think
there is reason TO believe that certain organs OF
n,,hlic nninion perhaps under the like guidance.
n11rer1e a similar tortuous policy; they seek TO
obstruct the execution of the laws by vehement
Iv and perpetuay demanding imposslbiiiues or
those charged with their execution When notn-
ing pleases editor or an orator IN tne at
ternpted enforcement of our federal statues
when he thinks all efforts 10 make 'neIn eI
fective half hearted and all results dIldiheu
trivial OF deceptive, his label. Independent OF
all trusts" may be no less truthfui tnan IL Is
ostentatious. but must own uhcrdil'hoie o'uO''
as TO its entire sincerity.
Mr.. Bonaparte closed by saying that executive
oe5cera of the United States. regardless of their
own personal opinions were bound In conscience
and honor and by the demands OF Official duty
o,d the sanction of their official oath TO treat
any law on the statute books as the proclaimed
will of the nation, "and If any one shall even
wbisper that the execution OF law De sus-
nerded or abandoned because 1t Is hurtful 10
anv interests or is displeasing to any men. this
bsIf-snosen word hints perjury and disloyalty
+o r,,bIic servants and challenges the supremacy
of the American people over its own govern