The Washington herald., 1908-02-03
BLAZING TAFT'S WAY
Critics AnaIyze ROOsevelt'S
Antitrust Programme.
DISCIPLE MUST FINISH WORK
Hartman System and Standard oil
Prosecutions Regarded rs InRuga-
rated with End in View that PresI-
dents Candidate VIII Succeed to
Fight on bad Corporations"

over the shoulders Of Z. II. Hartman,
Of New York. who collected campaign
funds 70 bring about the election of the
Republican national ticket IN 1904, Presi-
dent Roosevelt. il = declared by his crit
les here, intends to wage battle, to the
end that the succeeding administration
shall be placed in the hands of a man
supposed TO be in perfect accord with
Rooseyelt's plans and policies toward
| bad corporations and wealthy male
factors"
The Standard oil Company. without
whose existence many statesmen would be
out Of a job for lack OF a really horrible
example TO stir up the multitude. is also
10 be used IL is charged, in building up
the political structure over which Roose-
veit expects TO carry Taft from the office
OF Secretary Of War to that Of the Presi-
dency Of the United States.
Prosecution Not Abandoned.
| Considerable surprise was expressed in
| Washington "a week or so ago when for
NAL announcement was made at the De-
| Ipartment Of Justice that the government
| had decided TO institute proceedings in
| the Federal courts, under the terms Of
| the Sherman antitrust act. against the
| alleged merger Of the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific railroad systems. Off
cial inquiry had developed information, it
was explained. tending to show that these
two great railroads had been brought
under common management and control
were being operated in restraint Of trade
and therefore. in violation of law.
Surprise was expressed because it had
been understood for many weeks that in
view OF the unsettled state Of finance and
trade it had been agreed. as a matter Of
public policy, IL would be unwise TO en-
bark upon A legal project that might
create further alarm and apprehension at
"a time when there Was need for confidence
in order that normal business conditions
might be restored.
Anticipation Of Failure.
The administration long ago had deter
mined to smash Hartman" IN the
tentative decision reached not to smash"
him. SO it is related the administration
/ conscience was satisfied with the assur-
ance that probably a suit 70 dissolve the
Union PaCihc-SOutheTn Pacific merger
would not be successful. Inasmuch as the
case of the government against the
Northern Securities Company Was won
by an cyelssh; that, too by the vote Of a
justice. who, in a statement of nis views
appended 10 the decision OF the United
States Supreme Court, declared it TO be
his conviction that a combination thar
was wholesome IN its influences upon in
terstate trade. although such combination
restrained interstate trade. was not
within the purview Of the antitrust act.
1t has been known for a long time-al-
though the fact was doubted by many
that William II. Taft. Of Ohio. was Roose-
velts choice for the succession.
The President had put IL down In black
and white that In no circumstances would
he be a candidate for denomination. 4
third-term movement was put under way.
1t gained such an Impetus that Roosevelt
felt it incumbent upon himself 20 repeat
that he was not a candidate for. nor
would he accept, another nomination.
President Wants Taft.
About the time the Republican National
Committee met in Washington in De-
cember it became apparent-even to those
who had doubted-the President was
much in earnest in his desire that the
Secretary Of War should succeed him in
the White House,
It has been charged by enemies Of
Roosevelt that al many crucial periods
IN his career he has shown superb ability
in advancing before the people any cause
in which he might be interested, and on
q, /, s,F hoe a
torious and triumphant from situations
where politicians Of ordinary caliber
would have been swamped and lost sight
of forever.
one notable instance Of the Presidents
alleged shrewdness in this regard is cited
by those who are inclined TO be skeptical
OF his acts and policies
Last spring President Roosevelt and
Hartman. as the result Of the publica-
ton Of certain correspondence in New
York, got into g row over campaign con-
tributions
It was charged that Hartman, at
critical stage in the national campaign Of
1904, was summoned to Washington by
the President At that time. It was said
things looked squally for the ticket Of
Roosevelt and Fairbanks The war chest
needed 20 be replenished.
story Told In Print.
After his interview at the White House.
so this interesting story ran. Hartman
returned to New York Things then be-
gan to assume a roster hue for the Re
publican ticket Something was said
about sum approximating s250OOO which
Hartman had raised for campaign pur-
poses. The whole country sat up in as
tonshment when this alleged incident was
set forth in the public prints
Following close upon the heels Of the
controversy about Harriman's connection
with the Republican campaign came that
weird, fantastic yarn in many chapters.
entitled "The fve-million-dollar conspir-
acy against the President" Persons un-
friendly to Roosevelt say that the five
millon-dollar conspiracy" was put before
the public to make it forget the horror
that was expressed at the charge that
Hartman had raised campaign funds at
the instance Of some one higher up
than Chairman George B. Cortelyou.
And the public did forget the Hartman
story. and devoted all It's time and
attention for many weeks to the Big
Conspiracy
Standard oil officials have charged that
at every important step taken by the /
government in the prosecution of that
concern, reports attacking its practices |
have come forth from the Bureau of /
Corporations
Important News Multiplied.
Did it occur TO you" said a promt-
nent Republican Senator. that the Presi- /