The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-06-08

" va tio
to a place as United States District
Attorney; but this matter cannot be
regarded seriously as the action of
the Senate at hat time was at the
instance of a former United States
Senator, whose course was prompted
largely through personal considera-
ton.
The Ems and outs" of great
propositions are called to mind in the
case Of the statements of John w.
Gates, who appeared before a Com
mittee of the House Of Representa-
tives, and gave facts regarding the
birth Of the steel trust. One would
have supposed from reading the ntws-
try, that there was vital interest
manifested in the disclosures. if such
they a be called. AS a matter of
fact. Mr.. Gates gave his story in a
quiet conversational tone, and prac-
tically the only persons present out
side Of Members Of the Committee,
were newspaper reporters, and the
confidential opinions Of these gentle
men We're to the effect that Mr.. Gates
had disclosed practically nothing of
consequence. This is the inside. The
story that went to the public was
that Mr.. Gates had related startling
things, and created sensation after
sensation, which had aroused his
hearers to high pitches OF excitement.
However, Mr.. Gates said a good many
things that were really important, but
which all had long since been given
to the public. The substance Of the
entire matter is that the story was
again related as to the manner in
which the steel trust was formed,
Carnegie to abide by a "gentleman's
agreement" The Corporation paid to
Carnegie 1920, OO0, 900 for his property
although he had previously offered to
sell at $4,000, 900. John D.. Rocker
Teller was frozen out, and was obliged
TO sell his holdings at forty cents on
the dollar. ]. Pierpont Morgan also
became frightened and a conference
was called at his home in New York
to deal with the canny old Scotchman,
who had the situation so thoroughly
in hand that the financiers Of the
country were agast at the stupendous
daring Of his enterprise. Mr.. Gates
testified that he told Morgan that
Charles NJ. Schwab was the only man
who could stop Carnegie. Get
S hwab," said Morgan, and the fu-
ture president Of the steel trust was
brought to the midnight conference
in Morgan's home, where everything
was adjusted.
There is a good deal Of speculation
as to how long the present session OF
Congress Will last as the business Of
both Houses is still in a formulative
state. and many weeks will be re-
quired to finish the session. There
has been a suggestion as to a recess
from July to October, but It Is not
likely that such a course will be fol
lowed, as the House leaders are de
termined that the Senate must take
action on reciprocity, the free list,
and many other phases OF the tariff
question. A. recess Is not to be grant
ed If Speaker Clark, who commands
a position Of considerable authority
in the premises, has his way. He
says: THE Senate will have to stand
the hot weather as best 1t can. but
IL does not need to think the House
is going to allow it to get out Of Wash
ington without taking action on reel
procity, the various amendments Of
fered thereto, and some Of the other
big things on the Democratic pro
gram"
So far AS the House OF Representa-
tives is concerned the wool tariff Is 10
be revised, and Chairman Underwood
of the WAYS and Means Committee
says that two-thirds OF the Democratic
Members Of the House will stand by
the party caucus and his Committee
in ratifying the program which has
been agreed upon. There Is no meas
ure before Congress except that OF
reciprocity, that has brought a great
er protest from all over the country
than the effort to practically remove
protection on wool.
An interesting phase OF the political
situation is being discussed in Wash
ington, and there are plenty OF poll
ticians who recognize the possibility
that If the Senate defeats reciprocity,
it will be doing the best possible
thing to help the personal standing OF
President Taft. The logic OF this