Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-26
TAFT ADDRESSES
BUSINESSMEN


American Industries for October
contains a statement by President
Taft explaining why he believes he
will have the support OF labor in the
November elections. The president
says: &.
II have every confidence thatI will
receive the support OF the great army
OF business in this country and of
that large portion of labor which is
employed by , these comparatively
smaller concerns and industries.
!. My policy has been perfectly con-
sistent and undertaking. have main
tanned, and the Supreme Court has
upheld my contention that combina-
tons effected with the purpose OF ac-
! curing monopoly were illegal. And
when the Department of Justice has
acquired evidence Of such an intent
have instructed it to bring suit. and,
il the evidence warranted it, to in
stitute criminal proceedings.
, interests Of Smaller Business.
I'm this policy | have been promot-
ing the interests of the great major
ity OF the. comparatively smaller bust
ness men and manufacturers of the
country, and of their great army of
employees The number of concerns
affected by the prohibitions of the
antitrust law is very small when
compared with. the great number of
producers and manufacturers and
business men in this, country whose
interests are promoted by the strict
and impartial enforcement of that
law. -"
Tine aggregate capital of the com
paratiVely smaller business men, pro-
ducers and manufacturers will far ex-
coed that of the so-called trusts, or
those who may be tempted to form
trusts, and the employees of the for
, mer will far exceed those of the lat
ter. And these smaller business men
and their employees represent the bone
and sinew of the industry of the
United States TO them. look for sup
port in the. coming election because
! have served them faithfully and
have safeguarded their interests
against those who. actuated solely by
selfishness, would have injured them.
This army OF comparatively small
manufacturers, producers and bust
ness men would be the first to suffer
from the general depression which
would Inevitably, follow the victory,
of those who oppose protection and
advocate measures which run the ga
NUT from radical tariff reduction to,
absolute free trade. They; are the
ones who would have suffered most
from the enactment of the ill-con-
sidered tariff bills passed by the
democrats. And they would suffer
severely from the uncontrolled COM
bination of business: which, is prohi;
bited by the Sherman. law. ..u ~
Veto Of the Tariff Bills. .....y IA
Referring to his veto Of the demo-
cratic tariff bills the President said:
: 6 Take the steel bill, for example,
Its passage would not seriously have
affected the steel trust with its vast.
Iore holdings. But 1t would have ruin
ed hundreds of the smaller maflufac-
turers. As sought to make plain in
my veto message, there were 245 in.
dustrial concerns, scattered through
eighteen states, which would have
been seriously injured by the demo-
cratic bill. Many representatives of.
organized labor testified that they.
would be seriously injured by its pas.
sage, and urged me to disapproye it..
Take the Hlanufac turers of machine
tools alone There were 225 of them
who testified that the provision plac-
ing machine tools on the free list
would compel them to close their fac
tories and to throw all their employees
out of work.
Tafts Constant Aim. ..-..- :~s
1T has been the constant and unde-
Waiting aim of my administration to
protect the great number of compare
lively. smaller business concerns of
the. country from extortion by those
who have sought to- acquire monopo-
lies on the one hand, and from that
injury which must inevitably result
from the ruthless destruction of the
protective tariff on the other, and IN
affording this protection to the en{
p,oyerss the, administration has been
equally <benefiting their employees.
These are the reasons why I be-
lieve that. although big business may
strenuously oppose my reelection
and may finance with liberal hand
the campaign funds of my opponents
/ can rely on the support of the great,
army of comparatively smaller DuSi-