The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
AGAIN ASSAILS TAFT
Chandler Gives Fifth Reason
for Opposing 0hiOan.
WRITES NEW HAMPSHIRE MEN
Former senator Declares Secretary
Is Committed 10 SOnenforcement
OF sherman Antitrust Law and
Abandonment of the Fifteenth
Amendment-Quotes Message.

Former Senator William E. Chandler, CT
New Hampshire. has made public the
fifth of the seven reasons why he Is con-
vinced Secretary Taft is an unavailable
candidate for the Republican party to
nominate for the Presidency
The fifth reason is set forth at length
In a letter TO Senator Gallinger. Gov.
Jordan. and the other New Hampshire
delegates to the Republican convention in
Chicago.
The objection embodies the fact that
Secretary Taft is accused of being COM
mitted to the nonenforcement OF the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution,
giving the ballot 10 the eoIored men. and
of being committed to the abandonment
of the antitrust and anti-pooling law,
now on the statute books as the Sherman
antitrust law
Quotes March 25 Message.
III his letter. Mr.. Chandler quotes the
message Of President Roosevelt to Con-
gress on March 25, as follows:
'Congresa can not afford to leave ii The Sherman
law) on the statute books in its present shape
bill has been presented in the Congress
10 remedy this situation.
This antitrust iaw WIS a most mWisely drawn
statute drawn mp in such sweeping form as
10 become either ineffee i've or else mischieyous
Combinations at solutely necessary
the only effective way Of meeting actual business
needs. 1t is mischevous AMI unwholesome to keep
upon the statute books unmodifed a law like the
antitrust law The time has come when it
fFtI "A "a fn F1rfftf
The contracts or combinations could be disap-
proved or forbidden ~aly after Eotice and hear4ns
with reasonable provision for summary review. on
appeal. By the courts.
The law should not affect pending suits short
statute Of limitations should be provided so far as
the past Is concerned, not to exceed year.
Moreover. and even more in the interest of labor
than Of business combinations, all suits brought
Tor causes OF action heretofore occurred should be
brought only If the contract OF combination com
planned Of was unfair or unreasonable
EIabOrates His Reason.
Not only to the fact that he believes
Secretary Taft also committed to this
attitude concerning the Sherman law.
but objecting as well to the employment
Of Federal oficeholders in the further
ance Of the Taft campaign. Mr. Chandler
goes on TO elaborate HIS reason. as fol-
lows;
Two days before the foregoing language was
uttered IN @ message dated March q the Hen
bum hiil so-ealled. introduced IN the House
on March q and the bin carries out the precise
measure of change outlined in the message. which
is this
ANY corporations eombnlns to ,c7mmi, the crime
Of preventing competition IN trade NAV hle the
agreement with the Commissioner Il Corporations
and within thirty DAYS he does not declare il 10
oe an unreasonable crime the corporations shall
- Ia 81
agreement can b proved IN court to be unrga-
sonsbe 20 the satisfaction Il the presiding judses
All railroads combining with each other 10
make fTaiilc agreement faTbSlding competition Ia
transportation may file copy with the Interstate
toninzrcc Commission. and If il is within thirty
days declared ty the commission % be unreasou-
aee It shall net af1crUaTd b. IrCs6cuted as
criminal unless it can be proved IN court 70 b an
unreasonable crime, to the satisfaction Of TIE pTesid
ing judges
Is to Destroy Present Law.
There are other provisions IN The Law which
show its auimus 20 be 10 destroy the force and
value Of the antitrust act and the auti-poong Law
aud 70 make them no longer terrar 10 the builders
d monopoly and destroyers Of competition. All
PROSECUTIONS fcF past cTeiisss are 10 be barred At
the end Of one year. Employers without limit are
20 Be authorized to combine 10 obtain labor on
satisfactory terms
that this whole plan grows out Of an agreement with
The corporation contributors 10 permit them 10 r.
sumo their career OF criminal monopoly The buree+
and the Elckedest combination TO smother ca4rsti
ton sud enslaye the consumer is the United Srstes
s5tei COMPANY, whereby soc Geo Il property has
oeen caIaiaiized at SZNS00e0, and the public is
70 be compelled % pay interest on this hcgus cT-
talization- But when lately this monster s04Iabt
TO seize and devour the Tennessee Coal and Inn
Company, which kept up some semblance of come
uuon It was allowed TO do 50 without complaint
by the executive government Of this nation When
later the managers Of the great raiiroad lines Of rhe
country openly met and Proclaimed their intention
IN combination % raise transportation rates il al
once came 10 be understood that 10 governmental
objection would be made 20 their raising of rates
provided they would not reduce the wages Of their
empo5es until after the nomination and election of
Republican President
Tend to Destroy Faith.
It is sueh performances as these which tend to
destroy the faith Of the people in the sincerity Of
Republican promises Of reform. If those premises
are net to be reiterated sud strengthened by the
platform and the nomination Of June le. defeat in
November may well be expected, notwithstanding
any bluDders Of the Bryan democracy.
To disregard the numerous dangers TO yhiel,
have called attention TO abandon the fifteenth
amendment and exclude colored voters fron, Repuh-
llcan caucuses and conveutions 10 make the Presi-
Dental canvass one conducted by the present oca-
holders only, 70 abandon the governmental move
ment against trusts and mOnopolies to disappoint
and challenge the labor organizations 10 defeat the
bill foT publicity 10 national committee expendi-
ture ard proceed to Ill the treasury Of our commit
Tee as in 1908, BY exactioas from the maleactors Of
great wealth, IN hopes thus TO the consequences
Of CIR faithessness and folly is policy which
l6 and not heedlessy and perhaps fatally postponed
until afteTward.