The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-12
\ WISE DELAY.

Pestponement Of the corporation cases brought
under the Sherman anti trust law until January
should serve to quiet apprehension pending the
Fan season II crop movement and business en-
terpriso. The further delay, in the sense that
que ton Of such magnitude continues unsettled.
will naturally put further check upon broad
developments. The world of industry must mark
time while Mr.. Taft engages the difficult task
Of selecting the men 10 fill the gaps on the power
fnI bench which now has ia its keeping the III.
dustrial destiny of the nation.
Comparatively few people understand the
lepochsl character Of this litigation Not only
are the two particular trusts involved, but the
entire theory under which business and com
merce have developed in America during the past
two decades. The millions represented by the
Standard Oil Company and the American o.
baeeo Company are but Il small traction o1 the
property rights II stake. 1hese corporations
are merely The examples pitched upon to dclli'
onstrate The rule and determine the powers of the
Government. Behind them stand or fall thou
sand or more similar organizations, capitalized
for totaI Of billions OF dollars, all OF them with
! a future put To The test Of the decision OF the
nine men who hall finally be selected 10 eonstl-
tuje the full bench OF the highest court. For
these reasons, which in their qualifications affect
al once the most powerful interests and the
/ humblest citizen in the land, the further delay
/ in the hearings is justified III sound caution.
What happens to American Tobacco is in the
! large view a matter Of Indifference to the mil
lions thai make the army of American industry
what will happen from reorganization com.
PEELED bv he decision Of the highest court i'll It's
case may 10 bring temporary disorganiza
ton 10 the country al large which will prove one
of the seyerest crises in It's history
1t Is not 10 be wondered at that Mr.. Taf,
hesitaes in the selection Of the men who must
share this immense responsibility. In pushing
HE cases which Roosevelt talked about 10 an act
ual decision before the courts, Mr.. Taft has
shown "a stamina which is all the purcr because
ii is 50 transformations. History will give him
the credit for act of simply honesty in this
matter which contemporary times overlook and
disregard. II would have been easy for him to
haya eonlened himself with defamation He
could have readily hit upon cheap and easy
method OF bol,tering a reputation. Instead, by
bringing 10 the test Of actual decision problem
which has been the boon of every frenzied orator
seeing rcd, Mr. Taft has shown that rare quality
known as two o'clock courage
/ Apart from the notice of the world, in the
quiet of chamber, fguratlvely speaking in the
dead of night, it must not be forgotten that the
President with the curse OF amabiitv had the
quiet bravery OF his oath Of office the simple
honesty Of the man to whom promise has a
sacred character. To have brought these cases
and then Ia accept the duty of selecting the men
to pass upon them is all that William Howard
! Taft needs 10 be secure in the annals of the
eountry's progress and development.