The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-28
TAFT IS EMPHATIC.
Says Antitrust Law VIII Be Enforced
to the Letter.


to the Letter.
Chicago, Oct. 2S.-In a speech here
which was regarded as having direct
bearing upon the governments latest
trust prosecution against the United
States steel corporation, President ran
denied in vigorous language that th@
administration was being influenced by
political motives.
Il would rather cut off my right
hand he exclaimed, than to do any
thing to disturb the business OF this
country, especially with a motive q
cultivating political success"
The president said he wanted it TO
be understood for all time that he
intended to enforce the antitrust law
to the letter.
Statements as to what may De
responsible for in bringing about busl-
ness troubles, however regretful may
be that 1t IS SO: can not turn me 1ro-. :,
the duty that lies straight before me,
continued Mr.. Taft.
He spoke to an immense thrcng IN
the First regiment armory, and his
antitrust declarations called out a
storm of applause and cheering. There
was no doubt as to what was In the
presidents mind when he said:
Il come to the subject of the trusts
at time when the matter is boiling.
He was delivering in part his Water
loo speech on the relation of the gov
eminent to business and had declared
that he believed the railroads OF the
country had brought themselves with
in the law and were consclenttously
trying to keep within it.
Il hope that at some not far distant
time the same thing can be said OF
the great industrial combinations
Mere bigness of plant, mere big
ness of company or corporation does
not constitute a violation OF the law.
1t is the purpose to restrain trade, 10
suppress competition and control prices
that transgresses the statute and the
supreme court has decreed tnat the sc
practices must end.
Throughout my career, the pres
ident continued, Il have always con-
Quoted myself with the idea of pro-
perity. If there Is anything that
arouses disgust in me 1t is the cara
nifty howler-the man who attacks
business and seeks to arouse preJu-
dice against it,
It was here that the president de-
clared he would rather cut off his
right hand than disturb business for
political motives
But he added, with pound OF
his fist on the railing before him, we
have a condition of lawlessness TO
heal with. We have had it for 20
years. Men have gone on organizing
com binationS in violation OF the anti
rust law on the theory that it either /
so1IId NOT or would not be enforced. !
The supreme court has held that this |
awIessness must be stamped out |
There is no discretion in the executive |
10 suspend a single statute II IS ms
lutv to enforce the law and to direct |
he prosecution of those who violate |
L -
saThere is a vast difference between |
uniting plants to reduce the cost OF
production and uniting to suppress
,onpetitfon, to restrain trade and con
roll prices A jury could find that
Inference in two minutes 1t is a
luestion of evidence and fact
Il am just now in the remarkable
position Of being charged with an at
ernpt to destroy business by entorc-
ng the antitrust statute and of hav-
ng set up the supreme court to emas-
uiate the statute in the interest OF
he trusts.
train soon will end; that business
Don will square itself with the law. l
,eIieve a majority of business already
! square with the law. There is only
ne way that 1 know of to cure the
that are suffering from
ontagion and disease, and that IS TO
"a dicate the disease. The law will
q enforced to the letter. Now, 1 hope
!, OF 10 understood.