The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-17
THE STANDARD OIL DECISION CAUSES
 MUCH DISCUSSION
CcoNT1NUED FROM PAGE D

(CONTTNUED FROM PAGE D that the courts conclusion was correct and would be generally approved. Sena- tor Clark, chairman of the Senate judici- ary committee, declared the courts ruling to have been "a wonderfully wise de- cision."
 Senator I,aFollette the insurgent leader, read in the Senate today Attorney Gen eral Wickersham's statement of last night, expressing qualification over the supreme courts action and followed it with extracts from the Presidents special message of January ', 1910, already re- ferred to. Senator LaFollette said that evidently there had been "a remarkable change" in the views of the administra- ton if the Attorney Generals statement reflected the present state of mind of the executive.
 The Standard oil decision occupied the cabinet almost exclusively at today's ses- sion. and President Taft having read 1t over twice, also discussed its purport with some of his callers. The attitude of the President himself that he should defer to the supreme court and accept their law as his law, was reflected by the cab met.
 There is a disposition among cabinet members to await the decision of the supreme court in the tobacco case. That decision is expected May 29 and until then no policy will be outlined by the administration to strengthen the anti trust law or solve a problem that yes terdays decision seems to have made even more vexatious than ever before. No Special Message
 To visitors tonight President Taft de- clared that he had no present intention of sending a special message to Congress proposing additional antitrust legisla- ton.
 While the President would not discuss the decision generally. his speeches on the subject and his special message of January ', 1910, left no doubt as to his views. He had hoped not so much fol decree dissolving the Standard oil com pany it is stated, as for a Clear inter pretation of the antitrust act unde which the department of justice coul proceed in the future.
 However he may regard the interpre tation of the law as it may be applie In future cases, the President believe that tie upholding of the antitrust lav generally by the court will be very use ful to accomplish the end which Con gyess desires.
 There Is no intention upon the part of the administration to check the ac- tivties of the department of justice. Trusts found violating the antitrust act will be proceeded against as in the past.
 The President thinks that conviction ! in most cases generally is certain where the evidence produced shows an attempt to create a monopoly.
 Although the matter had been con- sidered, it seemed probable tonight that there would be no attempt to proceed criminally against the directors of the Standard Oil
 At this time the President is not de- termined whether he will press the fed eral incorporation bill which he recom- mended to the consideration of Congress more than a year ago.
 He told callers tonight that he still believed in the merits of that bill. As a whole, the cabinet is more likely to favor a federal incorporation law than an amendment to the Sherman act
 Justice Harlan's dissenting opinion, de- 1ivered orally, and without notes, was available in its entirety for the first time today and received a most careful con- sideration.
 "As to all the chief justice has said about the illegal combination of this oil company and it's coming within the anti trust act. I cordially concur" said Jus tice Harlan at the outset. There are, however. some things in this opinion and that are to result from this opinion, which think may well interest thought ful men OF many thoughtful men. and I am unwilling to let them pass with any idea that I approve them.
 Harlan's Opinion
 'The antitrust act of 1890 was passed at time when this country was in state of great unrest, arising out of an enormous aggregation of capital in few hands and arising out of combinations which had their hands upon the throat of this country. in respect even to the necessities of life, and Congress had before it the great question as to how these evils were to be remedied, so far as Congress had \the power to remedy them. The oues- aion was: What shall we do?'
 NAfter citing passages in the anti- trust law, Justice Harlan passed up to the section reading: Every person who shall monopolize or attempt to monopolize any part of interstate trade or commerce shall be liable to the