Arizona republican., 1910-02-11
IA DILEMMA
 POLITICAL IA Subject Too Delicate For
 Open Discussion THE FATE OF THE TRUSTS
Now in Hands of Supreme Court-Situation Which Engages Earnest Atten- tion of Majority Leaders at National Capital

Washington. Feb. 10.-A conference held at the White House last night be- tween President Taft and Senator AL drich was only the forerunner of oth- CTS in the near future, the outcome of which probably will be the issuing of statement dealing with a situation that is discussed here wherever two or three are gathered together. and yet which apparently nobody thus far has deemed it prudent to make the subject of a public utterance.
 That situation relates to the possible consequences, financial. industrial and political. hanging |. the decisions Of the supreme coD of the United States in the cases of the American Tobacco company and the Standard oil company.
 The immedia,> subject of the con ference of the president and MT. Ald- rich was the administrations proposed amendments to- the interstate com merce law, but the effect of the su- preme court decisions in the tobacco and oil cases were discussed also and will be further discussed on Monday.
 Meanwhile. the president will speak in New York on Saturday night on the subject, it is said. of Party Pledges and How They Should\B Be Kept" and he is attempting no concealment or modification of his intention to make the decision of the supreme court the guide of the governments further ac- ton in regard to corporations charged with violations of the Sherman anti trust law. He makes it plain to all ln- quirers that he has in nowise changed his view of what. in his message to congress, he described as the duty to investigate the conduct of all trusts. MT. Taft says he will not be swerved therefrom by rumors, flurries and oth- ti>sr manifestations of Wall street.
 The general impression here is that the federal incorporation bill will not be passed at this session. All talk is unfavorable to its substantial progress and Mir. Taft recently disclaimed his intention to attempt to force passage. But even if it were enacted in its present form it offers. in the opinion of members of congress and corpora ton men no material relief of the con- dition that hangs upon the decision in the antitrust cases.
 Mir Aldrich said today: T can con- ceive of no Legislation within the powers of congress that can meet the situation either in anticipation of the supreme courts decision or subsequent to it."
 Except the repeal of the sherman law" was suggested.
 The senator smiled grimly. It was evident that he regarded that as out side the domain of possibilities.
 As for the scope of the antitrust cases before the supreme court. here is what Attorney General Wickersham said in connection with the motion to advance the Standard oil case to an immediate hearing: The tobacco case just argued and submitted to the court and the Standard oil case. present to the court practically the entire range of modern industrial organizations in this country, and substantially every feature of the so-called trust prob lem"
 The, proverbially delicate relation which the market" Wall street" and the financial world generally bear to the news gossip in the three great branches of the government, make it superfluous to point out the effect the decisions in these cases will have in the field of finance. Almost pathetic is the eagerness of those who are in communication with the market, clutch at eveey crumb of news gossip on this subject
 Political leaders, closely reflecting the minds of the leaders of industry, express more or 'ess vague hope that the court, should the judgment sustain the government and be hostile to the defendant corporation, will point out some measure of that relief which from any point of view appears outside the possible range of legislation. Politically. the consequences of the decision, either way, are momentous- especially so to the majority party in the event of the defeat of the govern ment.
 If the trusts win and congress is helpless to assist the situation eithet way, where are we att" asked Q repub- ! lican leader today.
 This is the topic most discussed in Washington.
 | The tobacco case is set for argu- | ment March IA.
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