New-York tribune., 1911-11-19
ASSA|LS ROOSEVELT IDEA
Bryan Says Commission Plan
Rests on Dangerous Theory.
MUST PREVENT MONOPOLI les
Nebraskan Holds They Cannot
Be Controlled, but Will Grow
in Political Activity.

William Jennings Bryan sailed for ia
maica and the Isthmus OF Panama yester-
day on the Hamburg american liner Prinz
Joachim on a visit to his daughter, who
is now travelling in the West Indies. He
was accompanied by Mrs. Bryan and his
grandson, and will be gone several months.
returning by way of Porto Rico.
Mr. Bryan had read carefully the recent
editorial Of Mr. Roosevelt in The Out
look" and he had a few things 10 say re-
carding the latter's views concerning the
regulation of the trusts.
Colonel Bryan did not exactly call
Colonel Roosevelt a socialist. but declared
that the commission Mr. Roosevelt sug-
gested for the controlling OF monopolies
was foredoomed to failure because II
rested OF a false and dangerous theory,
namely. that competition is impossible In
largo business enterprises. This Mr.. Bryan
contended was the issue of the socialists.
Mr.. Roosevelts commission. he said. would
never meet the issue as the people demand.
Shortly after he boarded the Prinz
Joachim MIR. Bryan was asked il he had
read Mr.. Roosevelt's latest article in The
Outlook" He smiled when asked II he
thought it indicated the return of NTr.
Roosevelt to political activity and an ambi-
ton to run again for President.
~ is a great ambition said Mr.. Bryan.
land worthy even Of a man as great as
Roosevelt But Of his political aspirations
am willing 10 let him speak first. OF
course. his editorial might be construed 10
indicate his intention to return to politics.
but II Is not necessary to construe it so.
Personally. ! would not put that construc-
tlon upon it. There are other reasons
which might have justified it.
IN the first place. Mr.. Roosevelt has
never shown any desire TO retire from the
discussion of national politics He is far
too vigorous for that. His connection with
The Outlook is proof that he wishes TO
take part in the discussion of public ques-
tions. Also II is only natural that he
should wish to defend himself and his at
titude while President against the charge
that he was deceived and betrayed at that
time by the Steel Trust
His editorial, however. fails to show the
line of demarcation between a trust and an
ordinary corporation; nor does it show
practically where the people can he helped
by his suggestion Of a commission Of con-
troll Mr.. Roosevelt was in office for seven
years, and he did not succeed in regu1t-
ing the so-called trusts. His plan of resu-
lating large business enterprises has been
tried and has failed"
Mr. Bryan then described the colonels
proposed commission of control as a dan
gerous experiment. The socialist" ne
said contends that competition IS unde-
cirable and then demands that the fruits cf
monopoly should be enjoyed by the public
The trust owners demand that the fruits Of
monopoly shall be enjoyed by the private
Individual who is most interested in the
trust"
Mr. Bryan declared that the Democratic
view of the problem is that competition is
not only desirable but essential and that
the Democratic plan is to limit the per-
centage Of control, that competition might
be procured.
Il believe" he continued. that the limit
Of control should be made so that corpora
tions could control 80 per cent and no more.
hope our party in Congress will oppose
national incorporation or any other plan
that contemplates the liberation Of private
monopoly, for private monopolies cannot
be controlled. They must be prevented
They will soon be more active than now In
national politics if we allow them to exist
and simply try to control them. They will
feel il necessary to control the commission
suggested by Mr. Roosevelt, and 10 do that
they must control the election Of those who
appoint that commission
Mr.. Bryan said he would watch anxiousy
for wireless news OF the decision of the
Supreme Court concerning the criminal
nrosecution of the packers.