The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-28
President Taft Is Vigorous in His Denial of the
 Charge
FIRST EXPRESSION
 ON THE STEEL SUIT
Antitrust Speech Brings Big Demon stration From Chicago Audience. Reiterates His Intention of
 Continuing Prosecution

Chicago October 27.-In a speech here tonight which was regarded as having di- rect bearing upon the governments lat est trust prosecution against the United States Steel corporation, President Taft denied in vigorous language that the ad- ministration was being influenced by po- litical motives.
 q would rather cut off my right hand,' he exclaimed, than to do anything to disturb the business of this country, es- pecially with a motive of cultivating po- litical success
 The President said he wanted it to be understood for all time that he intended to enforce the antitrust law to the let ter.
 ''Statements as to what l may be le- sponsibe for in bringing about business troubles however, regretful I may be. that it is so, cannot turn me from the duty that lies straight before me" con tinued MT. Taft.
 He spoke to an immense throng in the First Regiment armory and his antitrust declaration called out d storm of applause and cheering. There was no doubt as to what was in the Presidents mind when he said:
 'I come to the subject of the trusts at a time when the matter is boiing.'
 He was delivering in part his Waterloo speech on the relation of the government to business and had declared that he be- lieved the railroads of the country had
 |, ,i,, Iat nd were trying to keep within it.
 q hope that at some not far distant time the same thing can be said of the great industrial combinations he said. Mere bigness of plant, mere bigness of company or corporation does not cohsti- ute violation of the law. It is the pur- pose to restrain trade, to suppress compe- tition and control prices that transgresses the statute and the supreme court has decreed that these practice mist end. :"
 Promoted Business
 Throughout my career,'' the President continued, T have always conducted my self with the idea of promoting business and promoting prosperity. If there is anything that arouses disgust in me it is the CdIdInlly HOWleT 1IOsptilly We II need We are all in the same boat.
 It was here that the President declared he would rather cut off his right hand than disturb business for political mo- lives.
 But" he added with a pound of his fist on the railing before, we have a condition of lawlessness to deal with. We have had it for 20 years. Men have goae on organizing combinations in violation CT the antitrust law on the theory that it either could not or would not be en- forced. The supreme court has held that this is lawlessness and must be stamped out. There is no discretion in the execu- tive to suspend a single statute It is his duty to enforce the law and to direct the prosecution of those who violate it.
 There is a vast difference between uniting plants to reduce the cost of pro- duction and uniting to suppress com petition to restrain trade and control prices. A jury could find that difference in two minutes. It is a question of evil dence and fact.
 T am just now in the remarkable posi- tion of being charged with an attempt to destroy business by enforcing the anti trust statute and of having set up the supreme court to emasculate the statute in the interest of the trusts.
 q am hopeful that this period of strain soon will end, that business soon will square itself with the law. I believe d majority of business already is square with the law.
 The Only Way
 "There is only one way I know of to cure the corporationS that are suffering from contagion and disease and that is eradicate the disease. The law will be enforced to the letter. Now I hope that is understood
 With the arrival of the President tonight for a stay of three days, Chicago resembled somewhat the capital of the country Besides the President Chicago is host to Secretary of the Interior Fisher and Secretary of the Navy Meyer. A number of senators also are here before the Lorimer inquiry Although MT. Taft will be in Chicago longer than any Pres ident has ever been, his speechmaking began as soon as he could go to mass meeting. held under the direction of the Hamilton club.
 From the mass meeting the President was hurried to ball given by the Irish Choral society.
 The Presidents programme tomorrow will begin with an address in the fore noon before the American mining con- gress This will be followed by a lunch con given by the Chicago Bar associa- tion, at which Mir Taft is scheduled to talk about the recall of the judiciary. The afternoon will be devoted to the dedication of a naval training station. while in the evening the President will be the guest at a banquet given by the Association of Commerce.