The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-28
PRESIDENT MAKES
F0RC|BLE SPEECH
Immense Mass Meeting Under
Auspices of Hamilton
Club of Chicago.

CHICAGO Oct 21.-Presidcut Taft
and his party arrived from Milwaukee
at S:lo O'Clock tonight Tho president
went at once to the First regiment arm
ory to speak before mass meeting
held under the auspices of the Hamil
ton club,
II would rather cut off my right
hand" he exclaimed. than to do any
thing 10 disturb the business of this
country, especially with A motive OF cul-
tivating political success
The president said he wanted il to
he understood for all time that he in
tended 10 enforce the antitrust law TO
the letter.
Statements as to what ] might be
responsible for in bringing about busi-
ness troubles, however rcgretfu ii may
be that IL Is SO, cannot turn me from
the duty that lies straight before me. -
continued Mr.. Taft.
lie, spoke 10 an immense ihronS In
the First regiment armory and his anti
trust declarations called out a storm Of
applause and cheering There was no
doubt 10 what was in the presidents s
mind when he said
II come 10 the subject OF the trusts
AT a time when the matter is boiling.
Mere bisness of plant lie said.
mere biEness Of company or corpora
NlOn uOtS not constitute VOCATION of
the law. Ii is the purpose 10 restrain
trade. 10 suppress competition and con-
troll prices that trangresses the statute
and the supreme court has decreed that
these practices must end
Throughout my career | have always
conducted myself with the idea OF pro-
noting prosperity II there Is anything
that arouses disgust in me, it Is the
business and seeks 10 arouse prejudice
against II. Prosperity We all need. We
are all IN the same boat"
1t was here that the president de-
Ciared he would rather cnt OFF his right
hand than disturb business for political
motives.
But" lie added. with a pound of his
fist ON the railing before him. we have
a condition of laWlcssucsS To deal with.
We have had it FOR twenty years. Men
have gone on organizing -combina tions
I'm violation OF the antitrust law on the
theory that 1t either could not or would
not be enforced. The supreme court
has held that this lawlessness must he
stamped out, There is no discretion in
the executive 10 suspend single
those who violate u.
There is vast difference between
uniting plants TO reduce the cost OF pro-
duction and uniting TO suppress compcti-
tion 10 restrain trade and control prices
nIry could ind that difference in two
minutes IL Is a question OF evidence and
am lust now I'm the remarkable DO
sltlon OF being charged with an attempt
10 destroy business by enforcing the anti
trust statute and of having set up The
supreme court to emasculate the statute
III the interest of the trusts
am hopeful that this period of strain
VIII soon end; that business soon will
square itself with the law | believe a
majority of business already is square
WILD The law. There is only one way
KNOW OF TO cure the corporations that
are suffering from con,agion and disease
ana that Is TO eradicate tile disease. The
law VIII be enforced TO the letter Now |
nope that is understood.
with the arrival of President Taft TO-
night for a stay OF three days. Chicago
rcsemhled the capital OF the country
Besides the president. who IS scheduled
To MAX" dozen addresses and informal
lalks. 10 wind up The west Chicago is
host 10 Secretary of the Interior Fisher
and Secretary OF the Navy Never MANY
senator's are also here because Of The
Lorimcr inquiry.
Although Mr.. TAFT will spend longer
trne in Chicago than has ever been &C
corded by any president heretofore his
arduous round of speeches began as soon
as ne could travel from his special train
10 the First regiment armory to address
mass meeting. given under the direc-
lion OF the Hamilton club tonight
Every faction Of the Republican party
IN Illinois was formally on the committee
~ charge OF The meeting and Mavcr
carter II. Harrison. Democrat joined
with Lieutenant Governor Oglcs6y i'm
welcoming the chief executive. Both Sen
ator Loiimer and Senator Cullom were al
th" meeting