The Detroit times., 1908-08-25
Bryan Holds Taft
Lukewarm and G. 0. P.
Indifferent 10 Reform

E. .yisla=sR aka-tn- part az fol
| lows
Nowhere does the Republican par.
" show its Indifference TO real re-
form more than In It's treatment OF
the trust question. Here is the Re
publican platform.
The Republican party passed
the Sherman antitrust law over
Democratic opposition and en-
forced 1t after Democratic dere-
LECTION. II has been a wholesome
instrument for good In the hands
OF wise and fearless admins
tration. But experience mas
shown that it's effectiveness can
be strengthened and It's real OBJ
jects better attained by such
amendments as will give to the
federal government greater SUI
pervision and control over. and
secure greater publicity in. the
management OF that class OF cor
porations engaged In Interstate
commerce, having power and OPP
portunity 10 affect monopolies.
The Sherman antitrust law was
passed Is years ago; 1t has a Grim
inal clause which provides a peniten-
tiary punishment for those who con-
-spire together In restraint Of trade
Ever since the enactment OF the law,
with the exception OF four years. the
Republican party has controlled the
executive department Of the gov
eminent. and, during two years OF
the four. II controlled the house OF
representatives. Instead Of Demo
cratic dereliction. the Democratic
party has been urging. year after
year, the strict enforcement OF that
law. and the Republican party has
been explaining year after year why
IL was impossible to enfore 1t. In
stead OF being wholesome instru-
ment for good, It has been almost
useless, SO far as the protection of
the public is concerned, for the trusts
have grown In number. In strength.
and in arrogance, at the very time
when the Republican party was boast
ing of its enforcement OF the law.
The steel trust was formed imme-
distely after tho election Of 1900, and
prominent Republican said, In a
speech soon after, that II might have
prevented a Republican victory II IL
had been formed before the election.
Most OF the trusts have never been
disturbed, and those that have been
prosecuted have not had their bust
ftess seriously interrupted pres
ident has done something toward the
enforcement OF the law. but not near
ly enough, and the Republican lead
ers have thwarted him at every point.
Finally the president became SO ex-
asperated that he sent 10 congress a
message which shocked Republican
leaders by the herceness OF Its denun.
citation OF the predatory interests. The
very convention thaN spoke In its plat
form OF the administration as "a wise
and fearless one was composed large
ly OF the senators and members Of
congress who boldly opposed every eff
fort to free the people from the
clutches OF the favor-seekng corpora
lions.
No Remedies Outlined.
The Republican platform Says that
experience has shown that the effec-
tiyeness OF the antitrust law could
be strengthened by amendments
which will give the federal govern.
ment greater supervision and control
over, and greater publicity as to. the
merce corporations which have the
power and opportunity TO affect mon
OpOffeF. --rnat Is UT No pOTUrrHE OUt
OF remedies. no outlining or plan
for more effective egislation-simply
general statement that promises
nothing in particular And Mr. Taft
speech OF acceptance Is even weaker
than the platform. He gives no evil
dence OF having studied the question
or OF comprehending the nlquities OF
monopoly You look ~ vain In his
notification speech for any sign of in
LdIGnalion AT What the trusts haze hcer
doing or for evidence of zeal IN their
prosecution He has, fDr several
years been the intimate Official com.
panion or the president hut he has
caught none OF thu FIRE which the
president manifested IN his message
OF last January.
'If In the presence OF an aroused
people and in the heat OF q cam
paign the Republican party contents
itself with a colorlcss platform on
this subject. what can We CXpeCt IN
thu way o. activity when the ,exigen.
cies OF the campaign are passed 70.
WREN MI Taft H. appealing Ia the
Roosevelt Republicans. his discussion
the-sAhiec1- is SO nfeless -nn1 bic
=ttta.t4tef= a=aaelegelie=saa =as.sstAA 4.e5
what reason have we 90 expect 'lthcr
yisor ia the enforcement nf the law
or earnestness in the search for add
tio'al remedies7
an his speech delivered ABOUT "a
year ago announcing his candidacy.
Mr. Taft suggested that the present
law lc 80 amended as ~ Kermit '-ee.
sCuabio' restraint ~ trsf- Such m
amendment would be- as absurd as an
amendment to the law against bur.
rlary limiting the law 70 cases In
which more ban two burglars enter.
ed tho house az one timo or took more
than half they found. In his notifica-
zion speech he suggests national in