Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-30
PROBABILITY OF ROOSEVELT,
EIEcrIoN PUTS OPPOSITION
IN HOLE.
PLANS OF PARTY LEADERS
CONSIDERABLY pIsARRANoEp
Democrats Started Party Campaign on
Theory That TAFT Would Be Re.
neminatsd-Now Find Conditions
Changed and Roessvslt Record Not
Open to Attack.
Especial Correspondence


Washington. May 3d. What to do
about the question Of controlling the
trusts and corporations is a question
that is giving the democrats in con-
gress lot Of worry. Their plans touch
ing this question have been much dis
arranged by the recent progress of po-
litical events.
In other words, the more the nomina-
ton Of Roosevelt to head the republi-
can ticket looms up as a probability
the more the democrats feel the need
Of some tangible and concerted policy
| with respect to the problem Of what
to do about the trusts and corpora
lions.
To revert little to the development
of the plans of the democratic leaders
for the coming campaign this summer
and fall it may be pointed out that
these plans have been based on the
nominated and the battle would have
the democrats have calculated. would
Gratis would like to go before the coun-
try on their own tariff record. as made
in the house and to some extent in the
senate. as opposed to the record OF the
administration.
Roosevelt Spells Plans.
But at the eleventh hour. the
proportions as to alarm the democratic
that
it will be difficult to make tariff cam
paisn against Roosevelt as head of the
republican ticket and make it with the
likelihood that the attention Of the
country will be allowed to remain riv-
eted on tariff Roosevelts method Of
campaigning is to choose the fighting
ground for himself and not let the other
man choose It.
So. II falls out, many of the demo-
Gratis are wishing they were in posi-
ton to make more Of the trust and
corporation question. True, they are
attacking Roosevelt because Of his al
legged failure to attack certain concerns
under the Sherman law. But this has
small relation to the question OF
great constructive program for the fu-
ture regulation OF the vast industrial
corporations Of the country. Roosevelt
has been an advocate of such con-
structive program for a long time and.
while 1t has opposition, it is fact that
1t is a program that has much sup
port. AS against 1t. the democrats in
congress have proposer little or moth
ing.
Too Late With Program.
It is getting too late in the. session
apparently for the democratic leaders
TO take this matter up and lay before
the country a proposal for compre-
hensive legislation on corporations.
Many Of them seem unwilling to deal
with it and have sidestepped it con-
sistently One trouble is that the dem
ocrats differ widely among themselves
as to the best course to be pursued In
legislating on corporation problems.
Some want to pursue q vigorous policy
Of constructive federal regulation.
Others want to leave 1t all to the
states. The republicans are showing
more disposition to get together on the
question than the democrats, tho by no
means a unit on 1t.
Not opsn 70 Attack.
When It comes merely to attacking
the republicans for the manner in
which the Sherman law has been en-
forced, the democrats are not in good
position. 1t IL well-known there has
been much criticism Of Attorney Gen
eral Understands failure to appeal the
Tobacco trust case, that Is. to appeal on
the question of reorganization. Inde-
pendent tobacco concerns insist they
have got the worst Of it. Senator Cum
Minis forced bill thru the senate d.
recting the attorney general to appeal
in the tobacco case. 1t would seem as
II the house would have found 1t good
politics, II nothing else, to pass this
bill. But 1t has not done so. On the
contrary, the bill has lodged over in
the house Judiciary committee. in Con-
gresham Clayton's office. and 1t will
apparently stick there. This is some
thing that the democrats are likely to
find themselves more or less embar-
raised about explaining once the cam
paign Is on. 1t is illustrative of the
fact that when 1t comes to going before
the country and revealing vigorous
and constructive policy as to the trusts
and great combinations, the democrats
are ALMOST sure to find themselves in
deep water.
Y