The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-03

tonian order not even Secretary Root Is
specially identified with the distinctive
Roosevelt policies,' and II they are to
be the test, not even he would be the
logical successor, The one man who be.
yond all others~-so far beyond as to be
eclipse first and tho rest nowhere.
Is associated with the origin, evolution
execution and success Of the Roosevelt
policies is Philander Chase Knox OF
Pennsylvania,
We do not say this inconsiderately
The record proves It. Nothing can
derogate from the greatness of Presi'
dent Roosevclt's service in this direction
The time had come when In the interest
OF general business morality. in defense
OF the equal rights OF shippers, produc'
ers and consumers, in protection Of the
people against corporate power II was
necessary to call halt upon evils which
going on unchecked would have pro
duced social revolutions. To grapple
with these evils needed the moral en-
ergy and the aggressive force of's
Roosevelt, He made himself the inear.
nation OF the national conscience. This
is his incompatible distinction, and no
criticisms, not even any faults. can OBJ.
scure It, But President Roosevelt. with
all his courage and all his determination.
could not have accomplished what he
did without the legal acumen and ths
masterful generalshlp Of Knox. In
his very able Attorney General the
President found sincere sympathizer
and legal pioneer of remarkable grasp,
an skill.
Mr., Knox became at once the expo
nent and executive OF the Presidents
policies. Where all others stood mysti.
fled and uncertain at the complexities
and doubts OF untried. unconstrued and
inadequate law he struck
out new paths OF Interpretation and
triumphantly carried before the Su'
preme Court new and enlarged chart
Of governmental powers. His great
speech at Pittsburg in 1909 was the first
beacon which threw It's Illuminating
rays along the new course. Confident OF
the principles therein first clearly de-
fined he entered on the battle for ma
tional control and regulation Of cor
porations engaged in interstate com.
merce, and his judgment was speedily
vindieated BY notable victories which
changed the whole face OF the situation
in the relation OF the government to tae
great agencies OF trade.
Within few months four importan.
lines OF attack had been successfully
opened against combinations In re
straint of trade-the iniunctions on rail
roads against rebates; the overthrow of
railroad traffic pooling in the cotton
cases; the indictment and defeat OF the
beef trust; and the dissolution OF the
Northern Securities merger for the
combination OF parallel and competing
lines. These triumphs established the
reputation OF Attorney General Knox a.
the most consummate master of the
whole subject Of the powers Of the gov
ernment under the interstate commerce
clause and OF the most effective method
Of their application. So high became
the estimate OF his authority that the
Judiciary Committees OF the Senate and
House under the leadership of Senator
Hoar ard Mr.. Iitt7afield-themsely
legislators of great experience and abil'
ity-asked him to point the way to the
new legislation required. And his an'
swer was accepted and became the basis
of what is known as. the Elkins law
against rebates
Nor was this all. Mr.. Knox was
pioneer on railroad rate legislation. IN
1905 he had left the office OF Attorney
General and become Senator from
Pennsylvania. As such he stood forth
as the first and foremost champion OF
The Presidents policy of railroad rate
regulation. In his speech at Pittsburg
in November, 1905, before Congress
met, he gave clear elucidation of the
principles on which legislation should
be based and said. "T am sincerely con'
vinced that the time has come when
Congress must, in justice to the public
exercise more fully its power in respect
10 railroad rates and regulation"
This was the first distinct pronounce
ment from any public man which de
lined and clarified the essential features
If the problem, and Senator Dolliver
If Iowa who was active in pushing the
-ate bill said "Tn drafting this bill
he trainers of it were guided very
argely by the speech delivered at Pitts
,urg by the Honorable Senator from