The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-01
PRESIDENT TAFT IS
 MOVED ID DEFENSE
 OF ANTITRUST LAW
Crowd at Pittsburg Most Enthusiastic Experienced
 During Trip
LITTLETON WANTS
 TRUST LAW REPEALED
Mrs. Longworth Figures in Celebra- ton of First Steam Navigation of Western Rivers-Taft
 Praises Roosevelt

Praises Roosevelt
 Pittsburg, october 31.-President Tart defended the Sherman antitrust law to- plight in answer to an address made by Congressman Martin w. Littleton of New York, who earlier in the evening had attacked provisions of the law at ban ouet of the Pittsburg Chamber of Com merce It was nearly midnight pe1ore the President started to speak.
 This question has been eloquently considered by my friend Littleton, said Mr. Taft, and I regret the matter has come up here. It savers of harshness to have a difference of opinion on an occasion of this kind. But I must say what I think.
 "The Sherman law has been on the statute books for 20 years and been con strued, and construed, and construed, and finally by the supreme court. The two decisions last spring, in my judgment, give it definite meaning that any com binaton in restraint of trade with the purpose of controlling prices and stif1ine competition Is a violation of the statute. Men know whether they intend to stifle competition and control prices and all that is necessary in court of law is 10 prove the combination and the intent. That is all that is needed for the en- iorcement of any criminal statute.
 Discussion Unpleasant
 "It is not pleasant to be engaged in what may seem to be an assault on business, but business men thought this law could not be enforced. Now the law can and is being enforced and because of this we hear tonight that 1t is to be repealed.
 II would cut my hand off before would njure business. But what mas my dear friend Littleton to offer? only one course Is open. Either we Will nave individualism, or we will nave compiiia- lions in restraint of trade going to that noint where the people will demand that the mower of men engaged in such cor norations be transferred to the govern ,nent. And then we will have state social ism.
 "Now we can disintegrate unlawful corporations and put them under inJunc' ton. If they operate they must com pete. s,ssss-- 1.l
 T Kilow l ans sl3ahllis asai-,at eaf trend of many of you, but l can't nell 1t. The law is on the statute books ana must be enforced and this stirling ol competition and this control ot prices must cease.
 1T didn't want to get into this discus sion, but l want you business men te face this problem"
 There was frequent applause during the Presidents remarks
 At midnight the President was taken to the Shady Side station of the Pepn- svlyania railroad, where plans had been perfected for his trip to Morgan town, W. Va.
 President Tafts second swing around the circle as originally planned came to an enc here in the most enthusiastic and by Tar the noisiest demonstration he has ex- perienced in all the 1000 miles he has travelled.
 Pittsburg celebrated today the centen- nial of steam navigation on western rlv- CTS and MT. Taft was the star attrac- tion in the celebration. According to Superintendent of Police McQuade, there were close to 10000 persons at the wnari on the Monongahela river. The fresi- dent was taken aboard the steamboat Virginia to review the fleet anchored there.
 For five minutes after the presidential automobile turned down to the river bank every whistle within miles was turned down. The noise in it's intensity remind ed the President of target practice by fleet of battleships with 12-inch guns. Ii died down long enough for Mrs. Alice Roosevelt-Longwort to chisten a 're- plica" of the New Orleans the first steamship of western waters navigated Cown the Monongahela river and the Ohio, 100 years ago. by her great grand- father, Nicholas J. Roosevelt.
 Speaks Briefly
 There was quiet for a moment again while the President spoke briefly prais- ing former President Roosevelt for his succe ssful efforts in behalf of the Pana ma canal, but when the Virginia" the flagship of the fleet, turned out into the stream it started again. For more than an hour and a half the Virginia with the President In the pilot house on the upper deck steamed down the Monon- gahela up the Aheghaney. down the Ohio and then back to the wharf. both banks of these rivers being lined with peo- pie.
 The hills to the south of the city, at times hidden by smoke, were covered and eveTyf craft in the three rivers had their curious occupants. Members of the Taft party who have travelled with the President from coast to coast agreed that the crowd was the largest that has wei comed him anywhere on the trip. The noise was so deafening at times that the President was compelled to retire to the pilot house to 'hear himself think
 He reviewed more than 40 steam boats of assorted sizes and speeds. hundreds of motor boats, rowboats and canoes, scores of barges and govern ment dredges and swept majestically past several million bushels of coal slowed away in the Pittsburg harbor waiting for rise to go south. It was such fleet, the President said, as he never had seen before.
 Tonight MT. Taft brought his visit to Pittsburg to a close with speech at the banquet of the local Chamber of Commerce where he listened to plea for the repeal of the sherman anti trust act by Congressman Martin w.. Littleton of New York.
 Littleton Speaks
 Mr. Littleton quoted both former President Roosevelt and MT. Taft as having at one time or another been willing to have the sherman law amended. He declared that there is before the ration now in the solving of the trust question: the most difficult and far reaching problem affecting It's peace ana progress.
 Tt seems clear to me-" said MT. That the Sherman law can not possibly be made effective in the of the real evil without carrying with it too large sacrifice of the whole industrial fabric and that it should be absolutely repealed and a