The National tribune., 1907-08-22
THE PRESIDENT AND
THE FINANCES.
(Continud from Page l.,

that the Standard Oil Company is con-
ducting a systematic warfare against
the Administration, has only begun, and
proposes to undo the President IL that
be possible.
For business and political reasons
Secretary Root would be doing only the
natural thing were he to leave the Cab
met. He has secured all the official
honOrs possible for him, and he could
make great deal of money practicng
law. Perhaps the relations between
him and the President are not as cor
credible that there is friction between
them. The remark credited to the
President in q conversation with Secre-
tary Root that he might as well leave
the Cabinet and take Mr.. Bacon with
him, as the latter was all too intimate
with the firm of ]. p. Morgan & Co.
was undoubtedly a gross exaggeration,
if it had any foundation at all.
Attorney-General Bonaparte's recent
interview has caused the business in
terests no little concern. In annOunc-
ing that he wanted to Jail some of the
big ones he said: 1T is not my purpose
to waste time or effort on mere under
lings or subordinates. AS 1 said not
long ago. it is difficult for the lay mind
to see how Il corporation can be guilty
of violating the laws and how the Pres
ident or directing spirit OF that corpora
ton can be innocent" AS Mr.. Bona
parte gave out that interview on his
return to his desk in Washington, after
a conference at oyster Bay, it is in
conceivable that President Roosevelt
should not have been in entire accord
with him on that point. But a torren,
| of abuse from corporation sources has
been heaped upon the Attorney-General
and invidious comparisons regarding his
ability have been widely circulated.
/
1t all stimulated the acute feeling to-
ward the President on the part of the
! general business and financial worlds
Mr. Bryan has been going up and down
the country preaching that a trust mag
nate be jailed, and with that sentiment
there is much popular accord. 1t is not
unlikely that the President desired tC
appropriate little more of Mr.. Bryan's
thunder. Afterward Mr.. Bonaparte
withdrew his statement, and indicated
| that he had been misunderstood, altho
that was hardly possible.
These and other things point to q
| tremendous warfare between the Presi-
dent and commercial interests du ing
the next eight or 10 months The OPP
position to him on these scores is much
| wider than the big trusts and the great
corporations that have been assailed by
his Department of Justice. 1t has per
meated the circles of the small business
men and small traders to some extent
for they feel the pinch of tight money
and the inability to dispose of goods
The well-to-do class of people find
money less plentiful, and grumble a,
the semblance of approaching hard
times. A prominent physician of one
of the large cities stated here the other
day that he was having unusual diff.
Guilty this Summer in collecting bill.
from his wealthy patients. They arc
j nlItting ha bot ,
said, ION the plea of lack of funds.
would rather have patient of the mid
die class owing me $10G this Summer
than patient in the fashionable resi-
dence section owing me $500"
That the President Is engaged in somt
important matters at Oyster Bay is be-
yond question. Just what he is doinf