The Washington times., 1912-09-22
WILSON ON TRUST ISSUES.

1t seems to be Governor Wilson's impression that
the trusts must be reached through drastic down
ward revision of the tariff and that is the remedy
that he proposes for the evils of large combinations
1t is difficult to follow the governor in some of his
discussions. He charges that the trusts grew faster
under Roosevelt than at any other time, and that
Roosevelt did nothing to stop that growth On these
points there facts available which deserve con-
sderation.
The Sherman act passed in 1890, was given no
real rest until the famous Knight-Sugar trust case
came along several years afterward 1t was tried
under the Administration Of Mr. Cleveland, the last
Democratic President of whom Mr.. Wilson has been
an enthusiastic eulogist There have been various
theories as to why that resulted in Supreme
Court decision that emasculated the Sherman act and
threw down the bars for an era of trust organization
The fact remains that the law officers of tine Govern
ment under Mr.. Cleveland did handle that case, and
did bring from it decision that practically nufed
the Sherman act
Following the decision of that case there was an
era Of trust organization, during which large pro-
portion OF the big combinations into existence.
That era was largely coincident with the second
Cleveland Administration and the Mckinley Admin
istraons. The first determined effort to read some
vitality back into the Sherman act was made almost
Immediately after Mr. Roosevelt became President,
when he directed the prosecution Of the Northern
Pacific merger.
That proceeding resulted in victory for the Gov
ernment; the merger was dissolved and enjoined !;
but the concentrated control of the properties was
not effectualy ended and has not been to this day
Following that, the Standard OIL Tobacco Union Pa
cfc, and other were instituted under President
Roosevelts direction; but they did not reach conclu
sion and DEGREES until after he out of Office In
those cases. likewise the conclusions thus far reached
tn hn,A kAAn 1el e,,l
periences convinced Colonel Roosevelt and other
Progressives that there was need for suppementing
the present law with administrative provisions fo
effective control and regulation of big combinations
In this attitude Mr.. Roosevelt is supported by the
best economic thought Of the country. He is the
one national candidate who has taken that position
and held it consistently and clearly. Governor Will
is distinctly unfair in his statement about Roose-
vets relations to the era of trust development
Roosevelt came to tine Presidency, to find the
Sherman law dead; killed by the Knight decision,
which Democratic Administration secured. Roose-
welt found, too, that following the Knight decision
there had been hot haste of the promoters to con-
sodate everything in sight. He promptly inter-
vened by starting tine Northern Securities At
the time, in the light of the Knight decision that case
looked like almost forlorn hope. But it was won.
In the winning, and in the results that followed, it
proved the inadequacy of the Sherman act. That
inadequacy has been further demonstrated by the
results of the oil and tobacco prosecutions
Mr.. Roosevelt therefore has not only rescued the
Sherman act and revivifed it, but he is responsible
for demonstrating just how far it will Co. how much
it will accomplish, and what it will not accomplish.
That being proved, he is demanding as construc-
tive statesman should, that the law be further
strengthened, developed, and supplemented.
1t is to Mr. Roosevelts credit that he has been the
one President who tried to make and did make the
most of the Sherman act that when he found it was
not enough, he demanded more; and that ne is today
the only Presidential candidate with clear program
and frankly announced plan for doing all this. Gov
Wilson ought to know these things, and ought
| to be fair in the statement of them.
4 a nGAInnEcc