New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-18

therefore he (Mr Bonaparte) would ho'
Stultify himself by temporizing with 'he
subject in any manner.
Perkins Saw Roosevelt.
Thereafter Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Smith
land. think. Mr.. Mccormick went o"'
and interviewed President Roosevelt and
succeeded in persuadins him not TO
prosecute the Harvester trust ana
shortly thereafter President Roosevelt
instructed Attorney General Bonaparte
not to take action.
Attorney General Bonaparte gave
me this explanation for the purpose OF
assuring me that he had not intention
ally broken his word with me In the
matter Of authorizing me to institute
suit against the Harvester trust MI.
Bonaparte plainly indicated 10 me that
he was offended because the recOmmen-
cations of the Harvester trust people
had apparently had more weight win
tho President than his own recommended
tons and advice
Mr.. Hilles then refers to Colonel
Rcosevelt's declaration that none of the
japcrs in the Harvester trust case ever
we're suppressed and reviews the recent
Presentation of some Of the papers TO
the Senate. The statement then con-
tinues:
these papers show that the Harvester
trust was about 70 be prosecuted Tor 'e-
bstina, but promised to do better. when
promise was satisfactory to the Attorney
General. Other trusts, probably not OF
tho benevolent variety, wore fined tor
rebatlne, and had to settle in the courts.
The suppressed papers show also that
George w. Perkins was referred to as
the representative OF tho farreachng
Moraan interests, and that Mr.. Perkins
said to Commissioners Smith that IL the
Harvester trust was to be attacked. then
tho Morgan interests were going to
fight whereupon Mr.. Smith wrote TO
President Roosevelt that it is very
practical question whether il is we'll to
throw away now the great influence OF
the so-called Morgan interests.
President Roosevelt had sent the re-
pert to the Attorney General. with these
directions: please do not file the suit
kill I hear from YOU
Colonel Roosevelt met the damaging
disclosure by saying that Mr.. Taft, as a
member of his Cabinet, had advised the
action that subsequently was taken. lie
even alleged that if his memory served
him. Mr. Taft made the motion in Cabi-
net meeting which resulted in substitute
ing an investigation for prosecution
Taft Out of the Country.
The records Of the War Department
were then introduced by President Taft
20 show that in the fall Of 1907, during
the full period OF the correspondence, he
was absent from the country in the
Philippines and elsewhere. Colonel
Roosevelt then shifted his ground and
said that President Taft approved the
suppression of the suit after his return,
III January, 1908.
This last charge is disproved by the
record, which shows that on November
7. 1907 (Mr. Taft was out of the country
from early in September until late in
December. 1907, Herbert Knox Smith.
the Commissioner Of tho Bureau Of Cor
porations. teIephoned Mr.. Perkins at the
Presidents order that the President
took the view that the bureaus investi-
cation should come before the suit.
Why. then, would the matter be brought
before the Cabinet for serious discus
sion in January, 1908?
Of it was brought before the Cabinet
IN January, then Mr.. Perkins had
scoop of sixty days on the Presidents
confidential advisers. II is significant,
100. that the order directed Commits
sioner Smith to communicate with Mr..
Perkins, Of j. p. Morgan & Co.. and not
with the president or attorney of the
Harvester trust"