The Washington herald., 1911-10-07

Continued from Page One.
upon the Supreme Court in the Tobacco
and Standard Oil decisions.
Mr.. Taft challenged Mr.. Bryan, not
calling him by name. to either cite a
specific instance in which the Supreme
Courts decision favored the corporations
cr to stop his criticism.
The President assured the crowds that
he was trying to solve the cOuntry's s
problems with no prejudice to the in
terests in any particular part of it. and
that he would go along in the future in
precisely the course he had adopted in
the past. He would not pursue corpora
tIons merely to make political capital
Mr.. Taft referred to the Supreme
Courts disposal OF the Standard OIL and
the Tobacco cases as two great deci-
sions." They were two of the greatest
trusts that existed he said. "and in the
working out of the decree the court had
to make a remedy. The Standard Oil
Company presented all the phases of il
legality and criminality necessary to es-
tablish a monopoly, at time when they
did not feel the necessity for concealing
their methods or their motives. The to-
bacco trust represented an organization
made in anticipation of the operation
OF the law, helped out by the advice OF
cunning lawyers in order to avoid its
operation. But against them both the
decree of the Supreme Court has been
pronounced"
Mr.. Taft said 1t was unfortunate that
the country had got into a condition that
required a remedy like this. A remedy OF
any evil, he added, was bound to pro-
duce, for time, not business disaster,
but difficult situation that might make
business slow But, after the solution
had been worked out, he saw no reason
why the country should not go on to
greater and greater prosperity.
No Discretion in Enforcing Law.
ITO one IN my place." said the Presi-
dnet there is no discretion with refer
ence to the trial OF cases brought to the
attention OF the Executive as violations Of
the law. The prosecutions must 60 on.
1t is not for the Executive TO say he can
withhold criminal prosecutions, or any
kind of prosecutions just to help bust
ness. Business must reform itself. and
these executive duties must be performed
under the oath OF Office that / took and
under the oath that those under me took
But when that part OF the business
community that thought that the anti
trust statute did not mean anything, un-
derstands that it is to be enforced. then
we may reach a solution that will enable
the business community 20 settle down
on a proper and legitimate basis. 1 hope
the time is near at hand when we must
get together for prosperity. We must
eliminate, so FAR as we can, this desire
to attack wealth earned by thrift and
gathered by foresight, attention, and in
dustry, because that Is to set up a feel
ing that bodies no good FOR the result.
'sI believe We are going on TO q greater
future. II we had allowed these combi-
nations to go on and develop. the only
remedy would have been to change by
force the power thus concentrated In the
bands OF few individuals to the state.
and then we should have had state So
cialism. 1t was the inevitable result OF
the movement toward trusts unless
broken up.
Competition or Socialism.
Now We can get back to competition.
We must get back to competition as an
element in this country. II 1t Il impossi-
BILE, then let US 80 70 socialism, for there