The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-26

vi tAiS ~
best evidence of its sincerity.
MSs<-Z
TAFT, ROOSEVELT AND WILSON
ON THE TRUST PROBLEM.
No more base f~alsehood has beer
uttered in the present campaign than
is contained in a statement first
made by Senator LaIFollette and late
ly repeated by Gov. Wilson, that
Roosevelt's administration did most
of all to foster the growth OF
trusts in the United States.
That it is utterly untrue has been
clearly and forcefully established by
no less an authority than the presi-
dent of the United States. In a mes
sage SEM to congress Dec. 5, 1911,
President Taft included a. statement
showing all the prosecutions inaug-
urated under the antitrust law since
the enactment of that measure. Here
is the number OF cases brought under
each administration, as stated by
Taft himself:
Under President Harrison, seven
cases.
Under President Cleveland, eight
cases.
Under President Mckinley, three
cases.
Under President Roosevelt, FOR
TY-FOUR cases.
Under President Taft. forty-seven
cases.
Does not this entirely substantiate
Roosevelt's statement in Kansas, Sat.
urday, that he was the FIRST presi.
dent to enforce the antitrust law?
What is more, it is within the
memory Of all that Roosevelt repeat
edly urged in his messages whilt
president that there be additional
legislation, in particular an act pro
viding for federal incorporation ant
regulation in order adequately tt
prevent the spread OF monopoly. ii,
could only suggest these measures
Congress refused to act. Those il
low his suggestion were in the re
publican party. Not a single democra
but was opposed to Rooseveit's pla1
for curling the trusts.
Even President Taft, conservatic
as he is, was compelled to admit i
his message in December OF last yea
that the Sherman antitrust law j
not adequate to meet the trust prot
lem. Thus he went over to tn
Roosevelt theory, although for thre
years OF his administration he stoutl
maintained the Sherman law wa
enough. Last December he said, afte
referring to Il former recommends
ton of the federal incorporation
plan:
1T has been made MORE CLEA1
now than it was then that a purel
e negative statute like the anti-trus
law may we'll be supplemented b
specific provisions for the buildin
up and regulation of legitimate MAJ
ional and foreign commerce"
In connection with the federal il
q corporation, Taft proposed a FEEDER;
bureau or commission, quite simila
to the one Roosevelt now advocate,
and in commenting upon this, h
said:
Such a bureau might we'll be il
u vested also with the duty already re
IeTTeu To, Oh dlQluS courts IN inc I'll:
solution and recreation of trust
. within the law. 1t should be an e,
ecutive tribunal of the dignity an
power of the comptroller of the Gu,
rency or the interstate commert
commission which now exercises SUI
%ervisory power over important elias.
es of corporations under federal res
II ulation."
On the other hand Governor Wi
g son maintains that a purely negativ
law, such as the Sherman act. wi
solve the trust problem. Yet TAT
after having held the same position
was compelled last December to a
u knowledge that such a prohibition
measure will not prevent the evils {
monopoly.
70 If WILSON HAS NOT EVE
q MOVED ALONG AS FAR AS HA