The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-09
WALL Street ANO
PRESIDENT TAFT
QUESTION ARISES As TO SUPPORT
OF FINANCIAL INTEREsTs
IN NEXT CAMPAIGN.
PRIVATE WARD WANTED
THAT DETROIT TRIP LEFT RIPPLEs
IN ITS WAKE THAT ARE
BEING CLOSELY
WATCHED.
BY VICTOR ELLIOTT.

BY VICTOR ELLIOTT.
WASHINGTON, Oct. S.-Will Wall
Street withdraw its powerful fnAn-
cial, Industrial and commercial influ-
ence from the Taft reelection boom
That IL a question that has been
agitating the Taft political boomers
for months past. There IL fear that
the financiers will forsake the Presi-
dent. owing to the activity OF the ad-
m1nistration in its antitrust CAM
patgns. AS yet no "feelers' have been
put out by the Taft forces In this re-
spect. unless Charles Dewey Hilles.
the Presidents private secretary, has
got line on the big business inter-
ests OF tho Empire state. He Is sup
posed to be wise in this respect. hav-
ing kept in close touch with things
political IN New York for numb
OF years past. The secretary, how
ever. is keeping decidedly mum on
this question, and all inquiries are
met with an evasive answer.
Retaliation on the present admins
tration by Wall Street is looked for
| by a number of politicians in the
democratic party as well az in the
Republican party. Resentment
against the antitrust zeal Of Attor-
ney General wickersham has been
at high pitch for long time.
Since he came into the Cabinet, Mr.
Wickersham has been persistent in
his warfare against what President
, raft has termed bad trusts" Other
trusts that were not so designated
were brought to the attention of the
Department OF Justice through the
Bureau OF Investigation which is
maintained by that department and
either suffered through prosecution.
were dissolved or completely put out
OF business. A general spirit OF un-
rest was engendered and Wall Street
prepared to bluff out the President
and his Attorney General. Wall Street
did not succeed and the American
Tobacco and STANDARD Oil companies
were proceeded against. This brought
the whole matter to a climax. The
administration hit two powerful con-
Germs rs wei. - a group Of very pow
erful fnanciers.
Must Stop Trust Busting.
1t Is now a question of supporting
q Democratic presidential nominee or
getting a private word from the ad-
ministration that trust busting and
corporation disestablishment viii be
discontinued as an official pastime.
Expressions Of President Taft dur
remarks In his speech at Detroit
have convinced certain persons that
the Attorney General represents his
| chief, and that there Is no probability
| or even possibility that the Wiley in
| cident will be made a pretext for a
! change at the head of the Depart.
| ment Of Justice. a,~,sa
For several days. particularly since
| the President crossed the Alleghan,
| mountains and began u put . pro.
gressive favor into speeches thai
| were intended for Western audiences
| the feeling Of concern has been in
/ creasinEly marked in tho big bust.
] ness centers.
/ 1t 10 now reported that the Prcsi-
dents program OF rigorous enforce
ment of the antitrust law Is to be
met with Mediate and vigorous re-
/ tort from the affected interests,
the withdrawal Of approval and sup
port. IL this report should prove
t true, 1t IL seen that these Interests
! believe they have no hope in the Re.
publican party. and that II they should
unload Taft 1t would nominate onl.
some other Republican even less sat
! isfactory to business. Therefore the
Democrats would appear to be the
only party which affords 4 reasonable
chance OF taking the more moderate
view of the relation of the govern
! ment to big corporations.
I According TO the gossip in loca
political centres, the probability II
! that Wall Street will drop Taft. Ac-
cording to one of the members of Q
| certain political following Wall Street
10 now seriously contemplating wha
Its move will he in this direction.
t The Presidents addresses on hi,
Western trip VIII be followed closel,
AS we'll as the activities Of Aftorne,
General Wickersham this fall.
This condition OF affairs has started
tongues wagging. anc the opinion
seems to be that Harmon will get Wal
Street support II Taft 10 repudiated
t Harmon has been keeping in thu
middle Of the road ever since hi
biifty In the presidential elsetfonE h
has been watched closely by the al
legged predatory trusts" during hi.
administration of affairs ~ Governor
of Ohio. and from every direction
comes the report that his course or
Ohio politics and his policies have
been approved.
| Should Harmon be supported b,
the powerful New York influences II
the National Democratic Convention
| 1t goes without saying that he viii
shV%UAs2 tAAc ANNNAtH0AkA18it aNAUA4QMkS
Wilson, Champ Clark, Underwood ant
other Democratic candidates woulc
have no show. As matters now stand
| 1t seems to be an even race between
the Various men. with Harmon, VIII
son and Clark way In the lead In tn,
home stretch. But with the influence
OF Wall Street backing any ~particu
lar man. the great race for the Dem
ocratic nomination would be won cas-
! lily
President Taft In fully aware of thu
i attitude Of Wall Street. and that thu
campaign that has been conducted
against the trusts II not conducive Il
pacifying the rabid element amonl
the big financiers who are out for thu
Presidents scalp. Yet no believes tina,
he can 70 before the country on ar
issue Of putting the bad trusts ou,
Of business to Offset the tremendoui
| objection of his reelection by the
masses on the cry OF the high cost OIL
! living.