The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-25
CALLS Them BACK
President Taft Offers Reassur-
ance to Fleeing Trusts.
Only the Guilty Ones Need Have
Any Fear.
CRUMBLING PRICES
CRUMBLING
And Visit From Hill Bring
Forth a Statement.
Message Is Quoted to Show Ad-
miniStratiOn's Position.

Washington, Jan. 25-Presldent
Taft today made public the follow
ing statement as to the reports that
the administration is planning cru
SADIE against 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 ref
eIence to prosecutions under the anti
trust law ether than as set forth in
the message of the president of Janu-
ary 7, 1910.
Sensational statements as II there
were to be a new departure and an
indiscriminate prosecution of import
ant industries have no foundation.
The purpose of the administration is
exactly as already stated in the presi-
dents message"
The statement was issued after the
president had talked with James j.
Hill and had received the information
that prices were crumbling in New
York under the various reports print
ed yesterday and today. There was no
statement from the White House ex-
cept the foregoing.
Mr.. Hill on leaving the White House
said he did not pretend to represent
or speak for the president in anything
he said, but he was sure that the preS1-
dent would not attack corporations
corporations. If the corporations were
violating the laws of the country he
supposed they would be brought to
book.
What He Said.
In his special message on interstate
commerce and .anti-trus laws, Presi-
dent Taft, in connection with a rec
ommendation for federal incorpora-
tion act. said:
1T is the duty and the purpose of
ia a n
tion by the department of justice,
through the grand jury or otherwise,
into the history organization and
purposes of all the industrial COM
panies with respect to which there is
any reasonable ground for suspicion
that they have been organized for a
purpose and are conducting business
on plan which is in violation of the
antitrust law.
THE work is heavy, but it is not be-
yond the, power of the department of
justice, if sufficient funds are fur
nished, to carry on the Investigations
and to pay the counsel engaged in the
work. But such an investigation and
possible prosecution of corporations
whose prosperity or destruction affects
the comfort not only of stockholders,
but of millions of wage earners, en-
ployes and associated tradesmen must
necessarily tend to disturb the conf
dence of the business community to
dry up the now flowing sources of cap
1Jdl us places OF nOdrQlng, ana
produce a halt in our present prosper
ity that will cause suffering and
strained circumstances among the in
nocent many for the faults of the gull
ty few.
THE question / wish in this mes
sage to bring clearly to the considera-
ton and discussion of congress is
whether, in order to avoid such a pos
sible danger, something can not be
done by which the business combina-
tions may be offered a means without
great financial disturbance, of chang
ing the character. organization and
extent of their business into one with
in the lines of the law under federal
control and supervision, securing COM
pliance with the antitrust statutes
Rest Cure Is Needed.
Mr.. Hill's visit to the White House
it was said .ater, was merely a coinci-
dence. Mr.. Hill said he had discussed
dent and had not gone into the sub
ject of prosecuting trusts.
Normally conditions are satisfac-
tory in all directions said Mr.. Hill
but we don't want lot of wild stories
to get abroad that will cause depres-
sion.''
Mr.. Hill did not want to discuss the
presidents recommendations as to
railway legislation, saying it was too
important subject to take up 'off
handed"
But we do need the rest cure bad
ly," he said, adding that the country
from the panic of 1907. He thought
three or four months of rest from
agitation would do a lot of good.