The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-06

the operation of the law, helped out
by the advice of cunning lawyers in
order to avoid its operation. But
against them both the decree of the
supreme court has been pronounced. /"
Mr.. Taft said it was unfortunate that
tbs. country had gotten into condition
that required remedy like this. a
remedy of any evil, he added, was
bound to produce for time not bust
ness disaster but d difficult situation
that might make business slow. Bur
after the solutie-4 had been worked OUT
he saw no reason why the country
should not go on to greater and greater
prosperity.
ITO one in my place" said the presi-
dent, there is no discretion with refer
ence5 to the trial of. cases brought to
the attention of the executive as V1o-
lations of the law. The prosecutions
must go on. 1t is not for the executive
to say he can withhold criminal prose-
cutions, or any kind of prosecutions,
just to help business. Business must
reform itself, and these executive
duties must be performed under the
oath of office that took and under the
oath that those under me took
But when that part of the business
community that thought the antitrust
statute did not mean anything under
stand that it is to be enforced, then we
may reach a solution that will enable
the business community to settle down
on a proper and legitimate basis.
Believes in the Future.
Il hope the time is near at hand
when we must get together for pros
perity. We must eliminate, so far a
we can, this desire to attack wealth
earned by thrift and gathered together
by foresight attention and industry be-
cause that is to set up a feeling that
bodies no good for the result. When a
man attempts that. he ought to be
marked by the patriots of the country
that he is attempting to use some dis
aster to the country to benefit himself.
I believe we are going on to
greater future. If we had allowed these
combinations to go on and develop, the
only remedy would have been to change
by force the power thus concentrated
in the hands of a few individuals to the
state and then we should have had
state socialism. 1t was the inevitable
result of the movement toward trusts
unless broken up.
Now we can get back to competi-
ton. We must get back to competi-
ton as an element in this country II
it is impossible, then let us go to So
cialisrn, for there is no way between
T. for one, am not discouraged, as yet
in the hope that we may return to
legitimate and independent COMPETE
ton. I am IN individualist and not
socialist
Mr. Taft then pleaded for kindlier
feeling between various elem entS of
the community. He declared the bust
ness of Undertaking would cease if
people would disregard the attacks
upon the motives and character of
those exercising authority and ascribe
proper motives until the motives are
shown to he improper
ct is good times, it is prosperity, :"
he concluded, when people are happy,
when wages are good, when prices are
normal. when the family has shoes
and netting to eat and the children
go to school. Those are times when
every body is happy
Mr. Taft said the railroads were en-
titled to proper treatment and should
be saved from the attacks of the dem
agogue or the man who would seek by
the position of his victim to climb over
his Shoulders into popular esteem.