Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-28
ROOSEVELT TO BRYAN.

Washington. Sept. 27.-Prcsidcnt
Roosevelt late tonight made reply to
W. j. Bryan's recent speech in which
he maintained that the Democratic
party ana platform were not getting Il
square deal in the campaign that
the Presidents professions Of fair
treatment entitled them to. Mr.. Roose-
vclt's reply deals particularly with MIR.
Rryan's assertion that the admins
tratiyn has Eccn neither sincere or cf-
f"ctivc in the prosecution Of trusts.
Mr. Roosevelt combats this charge
with thc characteristic emphasis and
$, Is forth in detail what has been don"
under his direction toward curbing the
tend ancy If capital to ccntralIzc with
a view to destroying competition. The
Presidents letter follows:
Washington, Sept -, 1908.
Dear Sir: ! have seen Your letter
published in this mornings papers AS
to most Of what YOU say about me per-
sonally | do not regard an answer nee
essarv When you say that ! am tn :
fair to your platform you rcitcratc GER
tain opinions as to what | had quoted
with my hearty approval from GOV.
Hughes. in my first letter; and these,
therefore it is also unnecessary 70
answer You have not answered the
Hughes speeches: and in my Judgment
YOU do we'll not to make the attempt
You say that your platform declares
in favor Of vigorous enforcement of
the law against guilty trust magnates
and officials, and that the platform
upon which Mr.. Taft stands makes no
ian, nt
That platform approved the policies
of this administration and promised to
continue them, and here as usual |
have only to compare your words with
the deeds of the administration and Of
Mr. Taft. You merely promise in your
platform that YOU intend to do just
what this administration has actually
done and is doing.
70 show the difference between deeds
and words | will compare the record
Of this administration with the record
of one Of your most prominent sup
porters at this present minute, Mr.
Oincy, attorney general under the last
Democratic administration. While Mr.
Olney was attorney general no cases
whatever We're brought under the anti
trust law against combinations OF capt.
tai. the only new case which he brought
being directed against combinations Of
workingmcn. During that entire ad-
ADMINISTRATION the only cases brought
against combinations of capital under
the antitrust act We're four in num-
Der. two Of which were unsuccessful;
one of the other two being the case
which was decided by Judge Taft III
favor of fine government
Under this administration, a mass Of
such cases have been brought. includ-
ing the case against the Northern Sc
curitios CO.; against the beef packers;
against the Federal Salt Co, against
the General Paper CO, against the
Otis and other elevator companies,
against the American Tobacco CO.,
against the Powder Trust; against the
Virginia. Carolina Chemical co.,
against the Standard Oil Co., ana
others
In a number of these cases. the gov
eminent has already succeeded by IN
functions and otherwise. some Of the
cases are now pending. In hardly any
important case against great law
breaking corporations has the govern
ment suffered final defeat.
As regards suits to suppress railway
abuses-I-ndcr the last Democratic ad-
ministration there were no indictments
against shippers for securing rebates
o. secret rates. Under my administra-
tions there have been 40 indictments
for secret rebates, resulting in is con
victions: and in only four cases nave
these indictments failed. The other q
cases are still pending. Among the
railroads which have been convicted
are Chicago & Alton; Chicago, Rurilng-
ton G. Quincy; the New York Central;
the Chicago. Rock Island. Pacific; the
Continued on Page Two)