The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-13
FIXED PURPOSE
TO Be DESIRED
Governor Woodrow Wilson
Criticises Taft and At
torney-General
FACILITATING POLICY
INJURY TO BUSINESS
Attitude Towards Corpora
tons is not Steady and
Tends to Upset
Business

WASHINGTON. Oct. 1.-the attack
NJ Governor Wilson, of New Jersey,
in his speech at Red Bank, n. j.. last
night upon President Taft and Attor-
ney General Wickersham, in which he
declared that the administration has
no fixed purpose In regard to Its atti-
tude toward big corporations, thus I'M
settling business conditions In the
country. TO an alarming extent, met
with approval from two members Of
Congress in Warrington to-day.
Attorney General Wickersham would
not comment on Governor Wilson s
speech.
Representative Burleson, Of Texas.
and Representative Carter. OF Oklaho.
ma, both said they believed to be
true the governors statement that the
country is backing and filling under
an administration which never defines
what II is going 10 do" and that you
cannot conduct sound business upon a
test OF guessing"
Should Enforce Law.
Il believe It to be the duty OF tho
nresidant OF the United States to en-
force the laws" Representative Bur
Lesson said. land / very much regret
that they do not persist harder in
their prosecutions OF the trusts.
would not want to seem to criticise the
president or the attorney general. but
the fact remains that they are not pro-
scouting these cases steadily. and
steadiness Is what Is needed. / regret
the apartment fuctuating policy 80
Tar exhibited. do not think the pres
ide-1t and the attorney general ought
to be criticised gor tlaugurattng pro-
solutions OF the trusts, but do think
they ought to be showing a more
steadfast policy In regard to the pro-
secutions. So far as Governor Wilson
has said that there ought TO be more
surety OF what the government Is
going to do. ard more expression of q
defined policy backed by acts,
Thoroughly approve"
Representative Carter. Of Oklahoma
said;
Tho vacillatsng policy OF the gov
eminent in regard to prosecuting the
trusts Is hurting business more than
any one certain prosecution or set OF
prosecutions could.
This Lis the drst time / have OBJ
served Governor Wilson to como out
so plainly in any political matter. and
am glad to see 1t, for 1, certainly
has occurred to me- as 1t must have
occurred to othera. that the admins
tratton r. showing Il watss--f we'll de-
fined motive in regard to the enforce
ment OF the Sherman anti-trus: law.
I agree with Governor Wilson heartily.
Credit to Stanley.
] also think that since Representa-
tive Stanley.s committee on the inres-
tis1tion Of the Steel Corporation got
busy and brought out few things
there has been more evidence that the
administration desires to 90 ahead and
prosecute under this law. Credit must
be gtven to Mr.. Stanley and the men,
hers OF his COMMITTEES for that.
We expect the Democrats, however.
to como into power at the merit cleo
tion. and whsn they do the people with
mot have 10 fear tho effect Of change
ablensss on the fortunes OF business.
The Democrats In the last Congress
save = pretty good forecast of what
may be expected Of them in regard to
the way they are arrayed against the
trusts, and 1t In certain that they will
carry out a program that the people
will approve OF when they como into
power.
Much weight. IN my opinion. win
be given to what Governor Wilson has
said a&ainst the Republican t.rninis-
frAtion in view OF his well known con-
versatfon on certain lines. such m
business political matters. He has
voiced 4 truth. and I am absolutely
sure that he Is right in warning the
pubic that the present bad business
conditions can be charged directly to
the vacillating policy OF the admins
tration and to the fact that they WIFI!
not let the business men OF the country
know, II they know themselves, what
II 10 that they are really going to do
In regard to the trusts"