Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
Mitchell Roasts Roosevelt.

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Chief Justice Mitchell, after reviewing
the early work Of the courts, their re-
lation to and their lines of distinction
from the other governmental branches.
expressed his regret that an effort was
making to weaken these lines Of dis
tinction. SO admirably defined in the
federal Constitution.
For the cure Of evils temporarily
prominent 1t is impatiently advocated
that the combined powers of the gov
eminent be centralized in the execu-
tive" said the speaker.
"The only safety for ALL declared JUS
tice Mitchell, lis obedience to law as it
is written-not to strained and distorted
construction to make 1t mean what 1t does
not and never was intended to mean. but
real meaning Of its makers.
Step Toward Anarchy.
1.-The only just criticism of a Judge s
law must come from a court which knows
the law and has Jurisdiction to declare IT..
Dissent from his views based on individ-
ual opinion Of what the law ought to be,
whether 1t comes from executive or hood
lum. leads directly and by short steps to
anarchy-the assertion Of individual will
against the settled law.
THE very phrases SO prominently put
forward OF Judges who have Jagged be-
hind the times and Judges who hold to a
twentieth century economic philosophy
betray not only ignorance. but deplor-
able incapacity to comprehend the funda-
mental principles Of the American gov
eminent. II the law as declared by con-
stitutional tribunal Is not what the people
want 1t to be. then let it be changed. But
let 1t never be lost sight Of that the au-
thority to change 1t is legislative, not
judicial still less executive
Numerous prominent Pennsylvanians
were guests at the dinner. among them
United States Senators BOies PenrOse and
Philander G.. Knox.
Mr.. Bonaparte's Address.
Mr.. Bonaparte said. in part:
Within the memory Of this generation
the American people slowly awakened
to a consciousness. dim and confused at
first but steadily growing clearer. that
all Americans did not then find a fair
field. did not get square deal. as they
tried to gain wealth. The trouble wasn't
that some Americans had grown very.
very rich: no one really blamed them for
that; the grievance lay in that these
very rich men could and that some Of
them did make it harder than nature
and fortune had made it for poor men
who wanted to grow rich to grow rich
in fact. just as they themselves had
grown rich.
THE cards were stacked. the dice were
loaded against the humble players: the
smaller and weaker among the racers
were crossed in their gallop and crowded
Off the track by the big ones.
In short, 1t was made plain to thousands
of Americans, through the daily expert
ence Of each one among them. that their
commercial liberties were in danger: that
the poor man was losing his right to
get rich il he could. his right to pursue
happiness through the acquisition of
wealth: and, as these truths were so
made plain. there arose from those who
saw and felt them at first murmurs of
discomfort and soon demands. growing
daily louder and more angry, that the
law-making powers. state and national.
should heed the cutlery and remedy the
evils.
THE answer of our Congress to those
demands has been given in the anti
trust laws The origin Of these laws
Is reflected in their spirit and purpose;
they voice no outburst Of wrath and
envy from the have-nots against the
HAYES. but embody plea of the have
nots or the have-littles that the have
a-lots let them too become lots.
if they can.
Aim Of Antitrust Laws.
Their aim is not to make any poorer.
n,
not to destroy or divide anew existing
wealth. but to help everybody who can
be a creator of wealth to himself profit
by its creation. How far they are we'll
and wisely framed to attain their ends
is a question of no little interest and.
may add. Of no little difficulty; but to
crticise them either intelligently or
fruitfully their ends must be understood.
For example. nothing could be more at
variance with their purpose than to make
1t a crime for any one producer or dealer
to do more than 25. or 30. or 40 or 90 per
centum Of the aggregate business done
in his line: nothing could be more for
eign to their spirit than to thus penalize
business success and the qualities which
lead to such success. Their prohibitions
and penalties are not against the manu-
facturer or the trade doing more bust
ness himself. but against his making
others do less; they forbid schemes in re-