New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-20
7. R. FLAyS W|CKERSHAM
Says Antitrust Suits Have
Helped Crooked Business.
REPLIES TO CRITICISM
Calls the Attorney General s
Result in Tobacco and Oil
Cases Failure.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune

oyster Bay, Long Island, Aug. 10
Theodore Roosevelt said tonight that all
trusts together could not confer any more
benefits on themselves than Attorney
General Wickersham would confer on
them n he persisted in bringing a few
more suits like those ne brought against
the Standard Oil and tobacco trusts.
The compliments Of the ex-President IN
behalf OF the Attorney General were oc-
casioned BY the published remarks or
the latter 10 the effect that eX-Presiden1
Roosevelt's two administrations were pro-
ductive OF great increase in corporation
growth The only prosecutions Colonel
Roosevelt attempted Mr.. Wickersham
declared, were the two abortive SUITS
against the beef trust. the Northern Sc
curites case and the proceedings against
the hcorice trust.
Regarding the views OF Nj wicker
sham. Colonel Roosevelt had this 10 say
The worst blow the antitrust Law has
ever received has been given by the De
cisions rendered under Mr.. Wickersnan
guidance in the closing action taken
against the Standard OIL and tobacco
trusts And any man who defends those
decisions or who having those DECISIONS
IN view. tustihes the present position III
connection with the trusts or thinks IL
satisfactory Is not warranted In recei'-
ing any further attention from any man
sincerely DESTROYS OF solving the trust
problem
The Attorney General again attacked
the ex-President or the pro rata distriou-
ton OF stock after the Northern securi-
ties suit. saving that Il established the
r-ecedent which later on controlled the
dissolution OF the Standard OIL case.
dissolution which. ne said, Colonel Roose-
Welt constantly asserted accomplisned
nothing
Nonsense" said the colonel tonight
We broke ~ the railroad combination
in the Northern Securities case, and there
il, no parallel between f. and the Standard
on case. and M Wickersham knows Il
rerfectlv well Continuing be said
Moreover. IN ny messages 10 Congress
and nv speeches Immediately aiter We
got the decision ~ the Northern Securi-
ties case 7 pointed out that even IN thar
case though We actually accomplished
a great deal. whereas n the Standard OH
and the Tobacco Trust cases Mr.. WICKER
sham accomplished considerably less than
nothing the results showed thai the anti
trust law by Itself was wholly Incapable
OF giving an adequate solution OF tA'
d,frc-lty. and that the problem % con-
trolling the great corporations could onlf
T. met by strengthening the Interstate
commerce laws and BY providing Tor the
same kind OF administrative control over
tns great industrial. concerns engaged N
Interstate business that the Interstate
commerce Commission exercises over the
railways.
"Farsee.ng men who really desire 70 ac-
eomplsh results then saw that this POSI-
ton was correct. and - is this position
which ma been taken in the Progressive
national platform. The policy which re-
ce,ved It's highest expression N th9 ma.
action taken with Nj Wickershams ap-
provai 10 The Tobacco and STANDARD OH
trust cases Is one OF make-oelieve
strangling Z, is preposterous from every
point OF view II benefits the bis crooked
business concerns Il keeps honest ousi-
ness men puzzled and anxious, and Il
shows the utter fuuuty Of attempting 10
settle a problem uy mere succession OF
lawsuits
Moved bv tho report mat Senator Pen
rose. OF Pennsylvania. wa about 20 IN
volys MIN 81 the disposition OF a 5000 fIna
given by John =. Archbold 10 1904. Colonel
Roosevelt declared to-day that as TAR az
the STANDARD Oh Company was concerned
he had specifically directed his leutenants
10 receive no money from that corpora
ton and as far as be knew mis- directions
had been followed.