New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-28
mo POLITICS IN STEEL
SUIT, PRESIDENT SAYS
He Declares He Would Never
Disturb Business from
Political Motives.
RATHER LOSE RIGHT HAND
But Anti Trust Law Will Be
Enforced to the Letter.
Calamity Howlers"
Disgust Him.

Chicago, oct. Pin speech here TO
night which was regarded as having a
direct bearing on the governments suit
against the United States Steel Cor
poration President Taft denied in Wig
orous language that the administration
was being influenced by political motives.
Il would rather cut off my right hand.
he exclaimed, than to do anything to
disturb the business of this country,
especially with a motive Of cultivating
political success.
The President said ne wanted it to be
understood for all time that he intended
to enforce the antitrust law to the
letter
Statements as to what / may be re-
sponsible for in bringing about business
troubles. however regretful | may he
that 1t is so. cannot turn me from the
duty that lies straight before me- Mr..
Taft added.
He spoke to an immense thrOng in the
1st Regiment Armory, and his antitrust
declarations called out a storm Of ap-
plause and cheering There was NJ
doubt as 10 what was in the Presidents
mind when he said:
Trust Matter Boiling.
q come to the subject of the trusts at
time when the matter is boiling
He was delivering in part his Water
loo speech on the relation of government
to business. and had declared he be-
leved the railroads of the country had
brought themselves within the law and
we're conscientiously trying To keep
within il.
Il hope that at not some far distant
time the same thing can be said of the
great industrial combinations he said
Mere bigness of plant mere bigness ot
company or corporation. does not con-
stitute a violation Of the law. II is the
purpose to restrain trade. To suppress
competition and control prices that
transgresses the statute. and the SUI
1Itlnt 'lil I IhS if'if''i Aiif'' 'ii''' i''''
tices must end
Always a Friend Of Business.
Throughout my career" the President
continued, Il have always conducted my
self with the idea of promoting business
and promoting prosperity " there Is
ANYTHING that arouses disgust in me II IS
the calamity howler-the man who at
tacks business and seeks to arouse pref
udice against it. Prosperity We all need
We are Az in the same boat.
1t was here that the President declared
he would rather cut off his right hand
than disturb business for political mo-
tives.
But" lie added with a blow If his
fist on the railing before him, I'VE have
condition of lawlessness to deal with
/ We have had IL for twenty years. We
have gone on organizing combinations in
violation Of the antitrust law on the
theory that it either could not or would
not he enforced.
THE supreme Court has held that this
! laNglessness must be stamped out. There
| is no discretion i'm the Executive to sus-
pend a single statute. II is his duty tC
enforce the law and to direct the prose
cution Of those who violate II.
A Plain Difference.
There is vast difference between
uniting plants to reduce the cost Of pro-
duction ard uniting to suppress compe-
tition. To restrain trade and control
prices jury could find that differ
| cnce i'm two minutes II is a question OF
evidence and fact
| Il am just now in the remarkable po-
sition Of being charged with an attempt
| to destroy business by enforcing the
| antitrust statute and OF having set up
| the Supreme Court to ema sculate the
! statute i'm the interest of the trusts.
Il am hopeful this period Of strain
soon will end. that business soon will
square itself with the law. | believe a
maiority of business is already square
with the law.
There IS only one way that / know of
! 10 cure the corporations that are suffer
| ing from contagion and disease, and that
! is TO eradicate the disease. The law will
! he enforced to the letter Now | hope