Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23
RoosEvELrs ATTACK ON ADMINISTRATION Ne FArHERED.

ExPresden Roosevelt has done the expected by at
lacking administration of Taft Shortly after Mr.
Rooseves return from Africa he was guest at eVey ana
he reported to have then told leading ubc man OF tne pay
following very formal upon President Taft that
looked though he himself would have to take the &
in 1912 Every development since that time mas oecn IN nun
keeping with idea that Mr. Roosevelt might have to atago
nze President Taft for whom he more than any otn n one One
responsible though he might not actually take inc
republican nomination himself
1t would be interesting right here to stop to inquire why
advocated nomination of William How
ard Taft his if he did not expect to STAND Loyalty by
the of his choice has been charged that he expected
Mr. take the office to permit him to
avoid the third term issue and thus the way fo MS own
nomination in 1912.
Be all this it may ex-President Roosevelt has now bitterly
assaied the of the Taft administration the immediate
casion for this being the government suit against the
United Steel company Familiarity the steel
In editorial in the Outlook reproduced else
where in this issue Mr. Roosevelt makes the atfooed
present administration at Washington it's deal
ngs with business and particularly with the Steel corporation
has brought about chaotic condition of affairs and has de-
moralized the government well.
Coming from Mr. Roosevelt and directed against his former
close friend supporter and political heir this astounding
shell This consideration in would make the Out
look article noteworthy but in addition attacking the Taft
administration Mr. Roosevelt adopts the logical course of de-
Tending the steel trust
This may in view of the fact that the nvestiga
that Messrs Frck and Gary President Roosevelt
to the absorption of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
to ascertain what the attitude of the federal authorities would
be toward OF that character and learned that barrier
would be nterposed
But Mr. Roosevelt goes beyond consideration Steel
against the tobacco trust miscarriage of justice lie de-
ares that in the of this corporation well that of
the Standard Oil far drastic action demanded
He assas the attitude of the department of Justice Washing
ton and contrdcs the assertion of President Taft that the
Sherman law needs revision
On the other hand Mr. Roosevelt insists that the effort
prohibit all combinations good and bad is fail and
ought to fal that should be range bust
ness as an incident of sranglng combinations but regulate
corporations in thorough going and effective fashion
help legitimate business.
In short Colonel Roosevelt editorial correspondence of the
Outlook endorses government policy dealing with the
problem damercay opposed TO that Of the Taft administration
Turning to existing legislation Mr. Roosevelt
the antitrust law is adequate the situation
grown up because OF modern business conditions and the
increase IN the business use OF vast quantities
of corporate wealth He that attempt the whole
problem not by administrative action but by
succession of lawsuits is hopeless.
1t should be stated at this point justice the ad
ministraon that the President has also held the existing
trust law to be inadequate but instead of amending
act and thus running the risk Of weakening
supplemental legislation enacted providing in particular for
federal incorporation of doing interstate business
and leaving corporations operating wholly within State bound
aries to local legislation and control.
AS will be recalled our readers the FREE PRESS so
time showed that the breaking up the Standard Oil conn.,
pany into its natural elements the original companies had not
materially affected the operations of those adversely
affected their character Mr. Roosevelt applies similar
thought to the Tobacco combination he says that tbe de-
cision OF the circuit court allowed means that the
tobacco trust has merely been obliged clothes that
of the real offenders has received any punishment
ExPresdent ROoseves remedy trust evil TO fol-
low the policy adopted relation railroads connection with
the interstate law He says step should be
enlarge the powers the corporations or else create
governmental board commission with powers somewhat
similar those Of the Interstate Commerce Commission but
covering the whole field of interstate business exclusive of
transportation
Mr. Roosevelt believes that the will necessary to
the federal complete power
and capitalization of all business
and in this his attitude closely parallel
the Hon. Charles A. Prouy of the Interstate
Commission
Manfesy the problem larger on the political
horizon other overshaowng the
Dividing lines do parallel those of political
parties impossible that Mr. Roosevelt may find him
self the in 1912 looking toward the
ipoO of his in nat