The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1909-07-14
TAFT 40 THE ROOSEVELT HEIR.

In the Presidential campaign, last
summer and more particularly in the
part Of the campaign which preceded
the Republican National Convention
the chief OPPOSITION to MIR. Taft's can
dldacy III the Republican party came
from the big business interests when
feared a repetition of AIR. Rooseve cit q
STRENUOUS antitrust activities. The
opposition was never organized and 4
was never really formidable but new
ertheless there was u strong sus-
pieion which. endured even after the
election, that II man who had been as
close to MIR. Roosevelt as Judge TAFT
had been, ard who owed his political
advancement 20 much to the Roose-
welt influence, would model his OIL
fetal conduct after that of his pre-
decessor.
In his acceptance speech. and On
other notable occasions, Taft express
ly avoweG his sympathy with the
Roosevelt policies. But when the
big business interests had Thought
the subject over carefully they dee
ed that the real evil lay not SO muSh
in the policies themselves as in the
Rooseveltian manner of execution
Taft Is a man OF entirely different
mental makeup; he is calm and judi
cial where Roosevelt was impulsive,
and 1t was this difference between
the two men that soothed the uneasi-
ness of the business interests. They
expect Taft to enforce the laws i'm
partially, but they knew that he
would omit the brass band and fire
works.
But 1t Is becoming apparent that
even though there is to be no pyro-
technical display in this administra-
ton, any trust or other corporation
that violates or seeks to evade the
laws will find Itself In as much
trouble as during the Roosevelt re-
gime. Four months ago there were
people In the land who pooh-poohed
the selection of Mr.. Wickersham OF
New York as Attorney General on
the ground that he was corpora
ton lawyer" closely allied with the
very interest which. as Attorney gen
eral, he might be called upon to pro-
secute. But now 1t is becoming plain
that Mr., Wickersham IS former pro-
fessional connections are to have no
more effect on his policy as Attorney
General than was the case with ME-
Knox when he became Attorney-Gen-
sral several years ago. In other
words, Mr.. Wickersham is like any
other honorable lawyer In that he
serves one client at q time. Whils
~ was IN private practice he may
Aavs served some Of the trusts that
u viii now be called upon to pro-
sscute. but at present he is serving
the people Of the United States. and
them alone.
In a speech delivered In New York
last week the Attorney-General gave
an intlmation of the policy of the
administration in this matter which
ought to remove any lingering sus
picions on this point. But u his ut
terances on that occasion are not
enough one need only refer to his
address In Paducah last "Wednesday
when he said:
1.-The attitude OF the administrator
toward corporations was fully pre-
scented In my New York speech. This
country IL benefited immensely by
the Roosevelt administration. There
was absolute need OF a tearing up OIL
conditions which had come to exist
The work was unsettnng work. but
1t had to be done. 1t was done with
q thoroughness that was tremendous
! think Mr. Roosevelt was possess ed
OF u wonderfully keen conscience. Ur
der the Taft administration bad
trusts will be vigorously prosecuted
But 1t Ia our intention to proceed to
the same ends as those sought b.
Mr.. Roosevelt, more quietly and with
perhaps less noise.'
That procurement certainly Is
plain enough to satisfy the most ex
acting. The Roosevelt policies will
remain In effect for at least foui
years to come, andthefact that the!
will be executed with less public agi
tation does not mean that they will
be any less effective. Indeed, 1t Is
not improbable that they will be al
the more effective for this reason
But the main point In that they vii
continue In force.