The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-08
ROOSEvELT'S SOCIALISM

no movement or maSutCuu0 Cdu PA O ceed solely upon the personality of one man Men follow other men politically and economically because of benefits they expect to derive. What benefit does MT. Perkins ex- pee to derive from the Roosevelt campaign? What benefit do the oth- CT trust owners. whom MT. Perkins undoubtedly represents, expect to de- rive?
 In his recent statements MT. Roose- welt has begun to assert that crimi- nal and other legal, action directed to suppression of the trusts should stop.
 He indicates it as his economic be- lief and presumably the economic be- lief of those who follow him that there should be no further efforts to restore competition, or check com bination.
 His utterances upon this point are guarded but they are plain enough to be understandable.
 T prosecuted the, trusts more thar any other president,' says MT. Roose. welt, continuing so as to leave the inference that he would have pre- ferred not to prosecute them, and that he believes they ought not to have been prosecuted.
 At any rate. MT. Roosevelt now be- neves that the way to handle the trusts is to legalize them and regu- late them
 There can be little doubt that the mission of the third party. so far as it has a mission except to promote the election of MT. Roosevelt. is to fix the status of the trusts.
 NIT. Roosevelt's attitude is de- finite step toward socialism. and his economics are socialist economics.
 The trust.easstlis1 nevspapeEs has frequently shown. Is in essence so- cialistic Socialism proclaims a law of economic. evolution which compels business to be done in large units.
 This law has not been recognized, nor admitted. by society in general. which adheres to the position that the world has made it's progress un- der free competition, and that un- der competition civilization has reached it's apex.
 The standard position of society is that monopoly suppresses initiative, checks production, increases prices and tnjures society.
 Mir. Roosevelt has endorsed the so- cialist position. He, with the social ists. says that combinations are in evitable. He asserts in effect though not in precise language-that combination with the elimination of competition is the better way. He denies that the small business man should be maintained in an independ- ent position.
 He would make the trust the ordi- nary business unit, and then would regulate it.
 The possibilities of regulation are, however. almost unknown. The ef- forts thus far. in the direction of regulation. have not been successful
 The trust now is in view of the law. a criminal organization. It is outside the protection of the law and its managers are subject to criminal penalties.
 Yet the trusts have regulated the government of the United States much more frequently and success fully than the government has regu- lated the trusta
 And the question is raised, if the government is unable to regulate biz business when big business is an out. law. how can the government regu- late big business when it is a citizen in good standing and entitled to the same protection as any other citizen !
 Mir. Roosevelt's position is social. lstic. But he fails to carry his economies until they are fully abreast of the socialist position.
 He says that trusts are necessary So do the socialists.
 He says, in effect, that competition is waste.
 ae do the socialists.
 But tine socialists say that the only organization fit to own a trust which snjoys monopoly of any commodity Is the government,
 Mir. RooseveIt's economic difference with The socialists seems then to sim mer to this:-
 He believes the trusts are neces- safys but he wants private persons tc control them and receive the profits Of monopoly.
 The socialists believe that trusts are necessary, but want the govern ment to own thems
 The Democratic party maintains its