The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-29
TRUST-BUST|NG
AS. SUBSTITUTE
Administration Will Use This as
Its Trump Gard in
Campaign.
RECIPROCITY PROVES FLUKE
Something Must Be Done to
Make People Forget Party
Failures.
Especial to The rlmes.Dlspatch. ]


Washington. September 2S.-Has the
Taft administration. since the defeat
OF the reciprocity bill by Canada, de-
cided upon q plan of trust busting" as
substitute for tariff and reciprocity?
Far-see!ns politicians profess to dis
cover change of front in the admin
istration scouts which indicates that
since reciprocity has failed. the propa-
sanda OF an antitrust campaign Is to
be brought out and used instead.
Whether the change of issues would
have been made If Canadian reciprocity
had not failed As mooted. Many ob-
servers believe that the President has
recognized. even before the nuke in
Cana'.a, that the tariff was bad Issue
Tor hin, and that he must force GONE
otner into a commanding position in
order to distract attention. The fail
ure OF reciprocity rather accentuated
the necessity OF this, because failure
gotten. the better.
No more vigorous expression has
been delivered by the President on
any live proposition since he went on
against changing the Sherman act and
In favor. of enforcing It He COM
nended the recent trust decisions, and
INSISTED that the courts be given OPP
reorganization procedure for the trusts
under It.
Something big Doing.
something big is doing in the matter
doubt is entertained in either business
or political circles. Something very
important and commanding Is regarded
as certain to be sprung in this depart
Went oetore Congress meets, probably
Just about In time TO draw public at
tention away from smaller affairs. tho
various department Investigations and
the like.
Attorney-General Wickersham has
heen the. least popular officer in tho
TAFT Cabinet. but lie also has been tho
most influential one with the President.
Mr TAFT has urbounded confidence in
him. He will not retire, despite rumors
In connection with the Wiley case. On
the contrary. he Is the man on whom
VIII be placed the largest respons:
pity for getting the administration
back into the good graces OF the co,n-
try before the next election. This is
over year away, and good deal car
be done In that time. at least In TIE
direction OF demonstrating @ vigorous
purpose.
Far from being rejected. the Attorney-
General is to become the head of the
politics from this time forth. 1t will
be startling change, because the adj
ministration has been pers;stently We
garded as amicab!y inclined toward the
big business tntarests.
Why this should have been SO is not
apparent. for Mr.. Wickersham, with
the fullest support of his chief has
Instituted and pressed more antitrus,
actions than all his predecessors to-
gether. But the suspicion against him
persists. especially in the anti-Taft
West and Middle West.
To Overcome Prejudice.
Mr.. Wickersham .s TO mako the big effort
10 overcome this prejudice to win back the
confidence of the radical sections and to re-
hab!l!ta;e the administration in the conf
denee OF the people who have been unw!ll-
Ing to believe 1t sincere IN enforcing the
antitrust act.
The mystery about the Impending move
In this campaign continues dense II is
known that Soicitor-General lehman ha.
Forwarded to the Attorney General some
sort of report or accommodation IN the
matter OF The steel corporation, but It's con-
tents and even its dire,tioR are utterly uny
known. So vigorous contecturea hav.
brought positive deHials Blu; there is no
doubt that something OF surprising moment
Is about 20 develop IN this antitrust dirtc-
However unfortunate ha hat hee, In his
eHorts TO command confidence OF the radi
caIs, the Attorney-QcnerRi has done quite
us pao!y WITH the conservative elements
WA! street fondly expected that he would
DO as. Attorney-General. He has NOT hem
snything OF the kind. He has been a sorrv
olsa Ppo!ntment to II, az a long list Of ,Ir
oFous and effective prosecutions. public ui
teFanees and announcements OF po;!cy nrove
?. H MEG.