Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-02
Colonel Very Much Fused
About New York
Speech.
DIGGING UP RECORDS
Claims Governors Position Has
Been Tested as Jersey
Executive.

oyster Bay. Nov. Colonel Roose- |
velt issued a statement today devoted
largely TO answering Governor VIII
sons remarks upon the trust question
in his speech Thursday night at Madi-
son Square garden.
'In view OF Wilson's insistence upon
the Importance Of the trust problem"
saws the colonel, Il desire TO call at
tention TO Wilson's record on the trust
question as governor OF New Jersey,
and his previous attitude" Roosevelt
quotes from Wilson's speeches when
running for governor and later in his
first message to the Legislature Jan. Il,
1871 the statement continues, Will
son renewed with emphasis his prom
ise 10 deal with New Jersey trusts.
He described them as having slipped
cut OF control OF the very law that gave
them leave to be, and can make and
unmake them at pleasure. and declar.
ed we have now set ourselves TO con-
tIol them soberly bat effectively, and
bring them within the regulation Of the
law There Is a great obligation, as
well as a great opportunity. an imper-
ative obligation from which we can
not escape n we would. No man who
wishes TO enjoy public confidence
dares hold back, and If he is wise he
will not resort TO subterfuge There
was ample opportunity" says Roose-
Welt. "for Wilson TO act either by Sc
curing legislative action or by proceed
ing against the trusts without inter
yoution OF the legislature. The SUI
preme court Of the United States has
solemLly declared the Standard Oil
and tobacco trusts have been guilty
80 fraudulent and unlawful conduct.
which the New Jersey statute declares
~ be a misdcmcanor Wilson has been
governor % months. lie now says he
wishes to proceed against the direc-
tors OF these trusts individually He
has. and for % months has had, as
governor. ample opportunity and ev-
cry possible means for thus proceeding
against them and for over a year has
Lad the decision OF the supreme court
as warranty for such procedure, but
he has never lifted his finger 10
take H.
LEGIsLATURE INACTIVE.
Wilson declined 20 give the legis
lature a lead in this matter. and when
a ese members OF the legislature gave
him the lead he still declined TO lift
fv, H. odd 11rr IN
view Of this attitude OF passive oppo
sition on his part, the Legislature fail
ed 20 act Through Senator Beveridge
and on the suggestion OF one of the
private citizens OF the country. Mr.
lIealy. head waiter in one of our no
tells. I asked Wilson certain questions
as follows:
"Is Il not n fact that the laws OF q
state under which a corporation is OF
Eanized prescribe its powers7
Are not all the powers OF Standard
oil and similar monopolies conferred
by the laws Of New Jersey?
Gould not these powers have beer
Curtailed by amendments 10 the New
Jersey laws?
why has not Wilson as governor o.
New Jersey recommended sucf
amendments2
REVISION IMPOSSIBLE.
In response to these questions. WI
son telegraphed one OF his supporter
as follows: I authorize you 10 say tha
the republican majority IN the legis
lature made revision OF corporation
laws impossible and no New Jersey OF
fetal could prosecute or propose a dis
solution for a breach OF federal sta
tutes'
This is no answer at all. Wilson
himself stated that the legislature dit
with surprising ease what he asked
and that republican and democrats
members actually introduced bills sucl
az were demanded by Wilson's explici
promises.
CLAIMS To HAVE TEST.
Il ask that Wilson's proposals nov
h tested by his actions as governor O
New Jersey The progressives propo'
ed real, thorough going efficient COT
troll of trusts Wilson and Taft nI
tionaliy propose the same remedie;
that is to put their faitn in a contir
ustiou OF the present policy. which
tC allow the eggs 20 be scrambled an
tNeu, after the damage is done. to pr,
coed by lawsuit lasting several year
10 try partially 20 unscra mble them.
Under these circumstances IL is n
wonder the great majority OF trus
r0agnates are supporting one or 9th,
Of the old parties"