Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-21
PRESIDENT TAFT ADOPTS DIFF,
FERENT POLICY FROM THAT
OF ROOSEVELT.
TRusr.eUsTlNe LAW
APPLICABLE TO ALL
Wade Ellis in Speech Condemns Roose-
veIt's Plan of Making Distinction
Between Good and Bad Trusts-Tar-
if Issue Gives Hope of Democratic
Success in House.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, April 21.-That the
Taft administration will give no quar-
ter to one of the important parts of the
Roosevelt policy for dealing with great
corporations, is the conclusion which
public men are drawing from the
speech of Wade H. Ellis, trust buster
in chief to the administration, to the
bar association in New York
1T has been suggested" said Mr..
Ellis, that the Sherman law he
amended to forbid only unreasonable
restraints of trade, and permit those
that are reasonable, leaving to the
courts to define the difference. In my
opinion. no expedient more foolish
could be suggested"
Thus Mr.. Ellis pronounced condemn
alton of the project on which President
Roosevelt and his advisors worked ex-
tensively, and in cooperation with the
National Civic Federation and numer-
Gus students of corporation problems.
In the last two years of the last adj
ministration Mr.. Roosevelt had bill
drawn along these lines, and introduced
in congress. Numerous conferences
We're held at the White House and at
the department of justice, under the
former administration, with the pur-
pose of perfecting if possible legisla-
ton to make this very project effect
i've, of which Mr.. Ellis now says mo
more foolish expedient could be sug-
gested." Mr.. Roosevelts commissioner
of corporations, Herbert Knox Smith,
was one of the leaders in the effort to
develop such a project for making the
bureau of corporations an efficient and
effective organization: and in view of
Mr.. Ellis expressions, it Is suspected
that there Is some ground for the re-
cent currency of reports that Mr..
Smith will not permanently continue
in his present position.
Mr. Ellis declares there is no reason
why the antitrust act should apply to
railroads. In this he agrees with the
conclusion finally reached by the
| Roosevelt administration. Mr. Ellis ex-
pressed the opinion that "the mere size
of a combination ought not to con-
denim It, Where the combination or
concentration Is made to effect econ
omy in production or protect mutual
interests without intent to control
prices, limit production. distribute ter
ritory or promote monopoly, the comb-
nation ought to be encouraged and
not discouraged by the law"
This is regarded as the highly sig
nificant feature in the address 1t seems
4 IN 1o,, no
tions may be made for proper purposes.
and trusted not to attempt the improp-
er. Critics of Mr.. Ellis protest that he
is trusting too much to weak human
nature. They say that experience has
shown that the combination, however
laudable it's original purposes, is alto
gether likely, in operation, to reach out
| for control of prices. suppression of
competition and establishment of mon-
opoly than merely to devote itself to
the laudable purposes of cheapenng
production and improving the condition
of it's employees.
The Ellis speech is looked upon as
in effect a criticism of the efforts Of
the bureau of corporations to make a
job for itself. Ever since it was
created, that bureau has been trying
!
do effectively Its success has been
rather uncertain. 1t investigated the
lumber business, and found that there
Is no reason for protective duty on
lumber but congress is not paying the
least attention. 1t investigated the oil
industry. and found that the duty on
ell should be removed, and If it is. the
recommendation of the bureau will
~ ",
has been seeking substantial enlarge
ment of its powers and jurisdiction for
a long time. without success. Mr.. Car
field, as commissioner of corporations.
vas under suspicion of wanting to an
mex the field of the interstate COM
merce commission; but the plan didn't
work Now there is report that the
new administration is disposed to take
up the Garfield idea by attaching the
commission to this bureau; while Mr..
Ellis apparently wants the bureau TO
retire from efforts to interfere serious
ly with corporations.
Because of the general uncertainty
about the policy the Taft administra-
l-tion is going to advocate and the ev-
idence that it is cropping about for a
way out of the maze of complexities
lnVo1V1ng the prODlemAoI Regulating
railroads and big corporations such ut
terances as those of Mr. Ellis receive
the most scrutinzing attention at this
time.
If the democrats should carry the
next house of representatives, as they
Eexpect to do, Oscar w. Underwood of
Birmingham, Ala, would be chairman
of the committee on ways and means.
That is, he would if Champ Clark
should be chosen speaker and that is
hardly subject to uncertainty.
: If the democrats carry the house.
they will do it on the tariff issue; and
there would thus be presented the in
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