Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-19
IEFNTTE REPLY IS CALLED FOR
Urges Opposition to Name Trade Re.
straint Not Condemned.
OPPOSES LAW AMENDMENT
Executive Says Sherman Act Now
Valuable Government Asset.
GREETED BY CROWDS ON TRIP
Makes Speech 10 Newspaper Men and
NJ Fair Grounds Gives Another
Address Along ARrI cu-
tural Lines.

DETROIT. Mich. Sept ls-President
TAFT inaugurated four days stay in
Michigan with four speeches in and
around Detroit The more important Of
these he reserved for the Chamber of
Commerce luncheon at Wayne pavilion in
this city, where the trust aaestion in
general and the recent decisions Of the
United states supreme court in the
Standard Oil and tobacco cases in par
ticular
In this address, President Taft threw
down the sage 10 Mr.. Bryan and other
critics of the supreme court decisions in
the trust cases. asking them to cite a
contract or restraint of interstate trade
he would condemn which would not be
condemned within the definition of the
CONT
Mr. Taft reached Detroit early today.
after an all-night ride from Erie. Pa He
left his train in downpour, but while
breakfasting at the Detroit club the
clouds began to give way and there was
a promise of sunshine for the outdoor
events on the program At the break
fast where the president was entertained
by Milton A. McRae he met fifty or
more newspaper editors and proprietors.
He spoke briefly Of his former connec-
tion with newspaper work in Cincinnati.
Senator William Alden Smith Joined
the presidents party today and will
make most Of the trip through Michigan.
President Taft today received an in
vitation TO visit the University of Wis
oonsin at Madison. Madison is the home
OF Senator La Toilette The president
was compelled 10 decline. The itinerary
is said 10 be complete
Returning from Pontiac. President
TAFT was greeted by big throng at the
state fair grounds near this city
Address on Trust Decision.
At the Chamber Of Commerce luncheon
President Taft said:
My Fellow Citizens: | propose to take
up the question which has occupied the
attention Of the American people for now
twenty years, that Of industrial combina-
tions known ar trusts" During the last
year we have had two great decisions by
the supreme court of the United States
They are epoch making, and the public
has not yet come to realize the effect that
those decisions, are certain TO . have, It
is not that the construction which the
court has put upon the act is different
frem that which most members OF the
profession, and most subordinate courts,
and indeed the supreme court itself. had
before indicated as the proper construc-
tion Of the statute; but It is that II is
now finally settled, by two fully con-
sidered decisions in respect to two of
the largest and most powerful OF these
combinations, what their illegality con-
sists in, and how they are 10 be treated,
in view OF the finding that they are
Illegal and do violate the provisions OF
the so-called antitrust or Sherman act.
Persons who do not understand the
effect OF these decisions and really do
not understand the law have a great
deal 10 say which is intended to lead the
public to the belief that in some way or
other the supreme court has emasculated
the statute and prevented its operation
against objectionable and injurious trade
combinations and conspiracies. Nothing
is further from the truth.
When the statue was passed in 1890
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