Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-25
PRESIDENT ISSUES sTArEMENT
REGARDING ATTITUDE
TOWARDS TRUST,
ONLY WARNING SENT OUT
CONTAINED IN MESSAGE
Taft Denies That Administration Has
Otherwise Defined Its Attitude or
Outlined Its Intentions - Message
Quoted to Show Good Trust. Should
Have No Fear.

Washington, Jan. 25.-The president
today made public the following state
ment as to the report that the admin
istration Is planning a crusade againss
unlawful combinations of capital:
mo statement was issued, either
from the attorney generals office or
the White House. indicating the pur-
pose of the administration with refer
ence to prosecutions under the anti
trust law, other than was set forth in
Inc message of The president Jan. Z.
l9lo Sensational statements. as if
there were to be new departure OF
indiscriminate prosecution OF imports
ant Industries. have no foundation"
This statement was issued after the
president had talk with James j. Hill.
the railway magnate. and had received
Information that prices We're crumbling
In New York under various reports
printed yesterday and this morning.
Hin, on leaving the White House, said
ne ala not pretend to represent nor
speak Tor the president In anything he
said, but was sure the president would
not attack the corporations. of them
selves. but the sins Of the corporations.
Hill declared that he discussed gem
eral conditions" with the president and
| had not gone into the subject of the
prosecution OF trusts. Normally condi-
| tions are satisfactory in all directions
said HILL but we don't want a lot of
| wild stories to get abroad that cause
depression But we dod need the rest
cure badly" adding that the country
should be allowed time to recover from
the panic of 1907.
What the President Demanded.
In his special message on the inter-
state commerce and anti-t trust laws.
The president in connection with his
recommendation for federal incor-
poration act, said:
1T Is the duty and purpose of the
executive TO direct investigation by the
department of Justice, thru the grand
jury or otherwise. Intro the history, or
Iganization and purposes of all indus
trial companies with respect to which
there is any reasonable ground for sus-
picion that they have been organized
for the purpose and are conducting
business on plan which Is in viola
ton of the antitrust law. The work Is
a heavy one. but 1t Is not beyond the
puNeT pl tHe department OF Justice, if
: sufficient funds are furnished to carry
on Investigations and pay counsel en-
gagged in the work. But such investgn-
ton and possible prosecution OF cor
poratlons whose prosperity or destruc-
ton affects the comforts not only of
the stockholders but millions OF wage
Iearners. employees and associated
tradesmen, must necessarily tend to
disturb the confidence Of the businesses
community, to dry up the now flowing
sources of capital from It's places OF
boarding. and produce halt in the
present prosperity that VIII cause suf-
ferng and strained circumstances
among the innocent many for the faults
of the guilty few. The question which
/ wish In this message to urge for the
consideration and discussion of con-
gress Is whether in order To avoid such
u possible business danger something
INant be done by which business COM
bnations may be offered means with
out great financial disturbance. OF
changing their character, organization
and the extent of their business into
ono within the lines of the law under
federal control and supervision. secur-
ing compliance with the antitrust
statutes"