New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-21
THEDAyIN WASHINGTON

out equivocation that the law OF supply
and demand no longer controls selling
| prices, and in effect he asks thinking men
how, except by federal control Of prices
is tho consumer TO be protected from an
extortlon made possible by that omnipo-
tence which is an Inevitable concomitant
Of Capitalization. To mind as logical as
that Of Mr.. Wickersham II Is obviously
| inadequate to prove that Capitalization
lessons the cost Of production unless II
can be demonstrated that II equally les
sens the actual cost 10 the consumer Nor
can the analytical mentality Of the chief
law officer Of this administration content
itself with the fact that the cost TO the
consumer has been materially lessened as
the result Of combination unless IL can be
be shown that this dmlnution Of prices
is proportionate 10 the increase If natural
resources and the decreased cost If pro-
duction resulting from improved methods
and machinery. for he clearly recognizes
that A large measure Of the decrease in
cost is merely the Inevitable result Of
American inventive genius and is far re-
moved from that philanthropy Of the
trusts 80 widely Wanted by some writer's
MIR. WICKERSHAM'S ERROR.-Grati-
Tying as Is the suggestion Of the Attorney
General 10 the socialsts-who are too prom.
10 refer'to II as his conclusion-thore are
serious thinkers on poitico-econornic sub
jects in the national capital who believe
the Attorney General is gravely IN error.
These men acknowledge that, arguing from
his premises Mr.. Wickersham Is logical,
hut hoy
They suggest that he is trying T. devise
method Of controlling the economic stream
al its mouth when wisdom clearly dictates
that It should he controlled at its source.
Reduced to the final analysis, the end which
Mr.. Wickersham and all other sincere econ
omists are seeking is the equitable distribu-
ton OF wealth-athough this and certain
other concrete and expressive phrases have
been 40 abused by the demagogue that they
have become almost offensive-and they
urge that the methods whereby this wealth
and the consequent power are concentrated
I'm the hands of the few are at least worthy
Of az serious consideration as the devising
Of a method whereby. having been so con-
centrated. their equitable distribution may
be attained or compelled. They submit that
if a remedy for those conditions which pro-
duce an initialy inequitable concentration
of wealth could be found. the onerous task
Of devlsing a method OF compelling sub
sequent equitable distribution would be
avoided, and with such avoidance the obvi-
Gus danger of Capitalization Of power in
the federal government would be eliminat
cd. II appears TO be the consensus Of opin-
ion at the capital, however, that Mr.. Wick
!, IL fhtttf ion
TO economic thought. and that If his sug-
gestion Of the possible necessity Of federal
control Of the prices Of commodities is
productive of serious reasoning along these
lines it will have worked genuine benefit to
the nation.
CULPABLE METHODS.-There IS a sec
ton of the party in control Of tho House
which Is so mixed up with the insurgent
enemies OF the Taft administration that It
is practically impossible to differentiate be-
tween them Typical of their methods how
ever. is the widely circulated report that
because the disappearance" Of the myth
cal "Dick-to-Dick postscript appears TO
lie between Ashmun y. Brown, until re-
Gently secretary to the Secretary Of the
Interior, and Don NJ. Carr, assistant 10 the
secretary. Secretary Fisher has determined
10 dispense with the services Of both, hav-
ing become convinced that neither Is more
trustworthy than Frederick VI. Kerby, who,
as confidential clerk 10 Secretary Ballinger,
acted as spy on the private correspondence
Of the Secretary in the interest OF Gift
ford Pinchot, James K. Garfield and their
attorney Louis y. Brandeis. OF course.
there is no truth whatever in these reports.
which. II may be noted with interest.
emanate from the same sources a
achieved the seduction OF Korby. Both
Messrs. Brown and Carr handed their res
ignatlons to Secretary FISHER Immediately
upon his assumption Of office, and long
before the Controller Bay matter was ever
heard Of Both remained IN Office at the
personal solicitation Of Secretary Fisher
until he could find competent men 10 put
in their places Mr. Browns resignation
took effect when Mr.. Fisher secured as
his private secretary Mr.. Cove Of Wiscon-
sin. Mr.. Cars resignation will not take
effect until the first Of August. at which
time a lawyer from the General Land Of
fee VIII be promoted 20 the place. The
fact that Mr.. Carr remains on Secretary
Fishers payroll until August is sufficient
70 prove the truth Of the Secretarv's words
/ that he has the utmost confidence IN Mr..
/ Carat least TO all save those insurgents
and conservationists who are perfectly
ready TO impugn the integrity Of the Sec
rotary Of the Interior now that he has
become a member Of the Taft administra-
, ton. G. G. II.