The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-01
DEFENDS SHERMAN LAW.
President Taft Replies to Congressman
IittIeton at Pittsburg.

Pittsburg. Pa, Nov. President
Taft defended the Sherman antitrust
law last night in answer to an address
made by Congressman Martin w. Lit
tleton of New York, who, earlier in the
evening, had attacked provisions of the
law at a banquet of the Pittsburg
chamber of commerce. 1t was nearly
midnight before the president started
to speak.
This question has been eloquently
considered by my friend, Littleton, B"
said President Taft, "and 1 regret the
matter has come up here. 1t savors of
harshness to have difference of opin-
ion on an occasion of this kind. But
must say what I think.
1.-THE Sherman law has been on the
statute books for twenty years and has
been construed, and construed, and
construed, and finally by the supreme
court. The two decisions last spring,
in my judgment, give it definite mean
ing that any com bination in restrai int
of trade with the purpose of con-
trolling prices and sitting competition
is a violation of the statute.
MEN know whether they intend to
stifle competition and control prices
and all that is necessary in a court of
law is to prove the combination and
the intent. That is all that is needed
for the enforcement of any criminal
statute.
''It is not pleasant to be engaged in
what may seem to be an assault on
business, but business men thought
this law could not be enforced Now
the law can and is being enforced and
because of this we hear that it is to be
repealed.
Il would cut my hand off before I
would injure business. But what has
my dear friend Littleton to offer? Only
one course is open. Either we will
have individuaIism or we will have
combinations in restraint of trade GO
ing to that point where the people will
demand that the power of men en-
n o NJ G.
ferred to the government And then
We will have state socialism
Now we can disintegrate unlawful
corporations and put them under in
junction. If they operate they must
compete.
Law Must Be Enforced.
Il know I am speaking against the
trend of many of you, but 1 can not
help it. The law is on the statute
books and must be enforced and this
sitting of competition and this control
of prices must cease
Il didn't want to get into this dis
cussion, but I want you business men
to face this problem
There was frequent applause during
the presidents remarks.
Mr.. Iittleton quoted both former
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft as hav-
ing at one time or another been willing
to have the Sherman law amended. He
declared that there is before the nation
now in the solving of the trust ques-
uon,' the most difficult and far-reaching
problem affecting its internal peace and
progress.
TT seems clear to me-" said Mr.. Little
ton, that the Sherman law cannot possi-
bly, be made effective in the exterminat-
ing of the real evil, without carrying with
it too large sacrifice Of the whole in
dustrial fabric and that it should be re-
pealed and a new policy or scheme of leg
islation inaugurated.
At midnight the president was taken to
the Shadyslde station of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. where plans had been per-
fected for his trip to A1organtown, w Va
President Taft'S second swing around
the circle came to an end here in the most
enthusiastic and by far the noisiest DEM
onstration he has experienced in the 12. 900
miles he has Travelled. Pittsburg celebrat-
ed the centennial of steam navigation on
western rivers and Mr.. Taft was the star
1Cor4ir,..ad ~, nrort PauaA