The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-04-05

President Taft's. Administration has
broken all records for prosecutions
brought and won under tho Sherman
antitrust law. Without fear or favor
II has brought to the bar OF justice
CORPORATIONS and persons engaging IN
Illegal combinations in restraint OF
trade, the ultimate purpose Of each
combination being to create . monop-
oily and to raise the prices on it,
products. In two years and eleven
months of his administration Presi-
don't Taft has caused to be brought
four more civil suits and fifteen moro
criminal prosecutions than Mr.. Roose-
velt brought in the seven and one
half years Of his administration.
Until Mr.. TAFT became the president
the administration, Of Mr.. Roosevelt
held the record in both particulars.
Thus has President TAFT, who was
Mr.. Roosevslt's right arm during his
last administration. kept his pledge to
the American people to uphold and
maintain the policies Of his predeces-
sor in punishing the criminals and
undesirable element In the big busi-
ross Of the country.
In the Republican national platform
Of 1908 reference was made to the
prosecution Of evil trusts and monop-
olies 40 one Of the great accomplish
ments Of the Roosevelt administers
ton. and the platform declared that
the Sherman antitrust law had been
q wholesome instrument for good In
the hands Of q wise and fearless
executive. In his speech Of accept
ance Mr.. Taft pledged himself to the
enforcement Of this law. How faith
fully he has kept this promise the rec.
ord Of his administration shows.
Problems Confronting Taft.
Stripped Of controversy ~ to the
exact meaning Of certain language Of
the Sherman antitrust act. the Ques
lions that had to BE- determined BY
those in administrative authority and
those who judicially determine their
acts, were, frst, how effective the law
was to reach the great aggregations Of
formerly competitive producers and
dealers. individual and corporate,
who, through inter-corporate stock.
holding mergers. consultations and
otherwise. had acquired 20 great .
control over . particular line Of indus
try a. to enable them to dominate It.
and to exclude or admit competition
~ they might choose upon their OWL
terms.
Secondly. to determine whether
that construction Of the law was cor
rect which had been given to II BY
some Of the judges Of tho circuit
court in New York in the tobacco
case. and In the opinions Of some Of
the Justices Of the Supreme Court IN
other cases to the effect that any
combination. which In any respect
operates to restrain to any degree Z
pre-existing competition in interstate
commerce. was necessarily condemned
by law.
In the three years Of the TAFT i'd
ministration all Of the sixteen easel
left pending by the previous admins
trstion have been disposed Of excsp
two. which have been argued and sub
mitted to tho Supreme Court of tn,
United States and are now awaitin,
decision. OF the remaining cases. tn,
Standard OIL case was argued earl,
during tho present administration
and. after an appeal. decided entirel,
In favor Of the government The sam
was also true of the tobacco case
with the ultimate result Of the disinte
grafton of that big trust into fourteel
separate and distinct corporation
This. It 10 believed. win effectivel
prevent a continuance Of the monopt
listic conditions complained a.