The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-21
ROOSEVELT OR ,rAFTt

aoncy should at least direct attention
20 his methods 1t IS all very well for
the eX-President TO call present condi-
tions chaotic; to declare that the deci-
sion in regard to the tobacco and oil
trusts was lamcntable miscarriage
Of justice, and to proclaim that he has
discovered that the only escape from
these conditions lies in following his
plan Of governmental regulation. super
vision ana control Tho people, how
ever, Will think Tor themselves They
will recall that when AIR Roosevelt
was in power Paul Morton was white
washed when It appeared that Mr..
Roosevelts heralded attack on lawless
railroad corporations was likely to
touch ono OF his personal Cabinet.
The public viii also remember that
during Mr.. Teft's administration tho
sugar trust was prosecuted and that
SIR. Roosevelt refused to lift his finger
against that law breaking aggregate ton
OF smuggiers and briEands. though thu
same evidence WAS laid before him that
was laid before Mr.. Taft
Also, tho thinking men OF the ooun-
Try WIN consider that Il government OF
Law .s better than a government of
personal whims; that an official who
administers the law without fear or
favor is u sufer and better guide than
one who intcrprets the law according
20 hiR own sweet will
President Taft found IN. Sherman
law en- the statute books. and he en-
forced that law, and thereby did more
10 make the American people see and
understand the intquity OF the prac-
tices OF which some OF tho trusts were
guilty than ten thousand OF Mr. Roose-
yelts stump speeches could have ever
accomplished.
When the financial pinch came in
lao7, following SIr. Roosevelts vioient
Remuneration of the same interests no
Ia now seeking TO placate, the then
President, terrified and d,smayed at
the ruin ne had so largely helped to
bring about, ordered tho Attorney Con
rial not 20 prosecute the steel trust
though at that very time MIR. Roose
yelt knew that prims iacie the steel
trust was guilty under the terms OF
Jhe Sherman law. Else wig did he give
Instructions for it not 10 be prose
cuted!
Now, when g spirit Of unrest Is on
the country; when great aggregations
Of wealth are doubtful of what tho
future may bring forth; when tho ad-
minisiration has declared that II VIII
enforce the laws passed by the people
OF this country until those laws are
altered, amended or repealed MIR.
Roosevelt Gomez forward with honeyed
words. striving TO make himself ap
pear "a the champion OF vested in
terests. the protector, friend. coun-
selor and- guide OF that Wall Street
which he haa studiously neglected ever
aimee E. H. Hartman, also q practi-
cal man" raised e certain 100000 to
carry New York for the colonel,
AS Il matter of fact. Mr.. Roosevelt
mas ADDED nothing TO what President
Taft has already said on the subject
n
annual message 10 Congress. President
Taft declared that the objec, OF the
Sherman law was mot to throttle busi-
nsss. or penaii2e. seize or destroy econ
omles In production and administration.
But" ssid President TAFT. ~ they
Corporations or Individually attempt
oy q use OF their prepoRdeTNtiES Capi-
tai and by sale OF their goods tenn
porarly AZ uHduLy low prices, To dril c
out of business their competitors, or
If they attempt by exclusive contracts
with their patrons and threats OF non-
dealing except upon such contracts. or
by other mvthO0s OF al similar churhc-
ter, 10 use the largcncss OF their re-
sources and the extent OF tEclE OUT
put. compared with the total output,
80 means OF compelling custom ana
Frightening OF competition, then they
disclose : purpose 20 restrain trade
and to establish monopoly and VIC
late the act
Would Nj Roosevelt, take exception
TO this statement? Does the destruc-
lion OF such practices as those when
were shown TO be the methods of war
fare used by the American Tobacco
Company mean necessarily the re-
creation OF unlimited competition sueh
as this country saw sixty years ago?
We think not! And Mr. Rooseve 1t
either knows mat it would not. or
us judgment IS not worth consider
ing.
Nor is Mr, Roosevelt any more re-
markable In his alleged discovery Of
Federal control and supervision In
the same message In which President
TAFT announced the attitude OF the
government towards Illegal corpora
tons. ne said tha, the best way to 81
fectiyely enforce the antitrust law was
TO require Federal Incorporation. 50
that the central government might ef.
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