Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-14
TRUST DECISIONS IN TWO BIG
CASES BOUND 70 GET INTO
CAMPAIGN.
TAFT ADMINISTRATION
WILL RECEIVE CRITICISM
Failure to Permit Appeal in Tobacco
Case and Non. Effectiveness Of Oil
Ruling Bring Trouble Upon Heads
Of Presidential Household Oil
Stocks Sell at Record Price.
Especial Correspondence

lSpeCldI
Washington. March 13.-The ire
n,endous rise in the prices of Standard
Oil shares, which are now in the soar
ing region of 5000, along with the com .
plants that the decree of reorgani-
cation In the tobacco case has given no
relief, are two facts that are looming
tip large on the congressional and po-
i litical horizon just at present.
!. They are facts that are likely to be
Used in the near future in congress to
give much trouble and embarrassment
to the Taft administration. Unfortu-
ns.tely for the president, the unexam-
pied upward climb in Standard Oil fig
ures, as we'll as the trouble over the
dissolution Of the tobacco trust. comes
just at time when the Tart campaign
! management is going before the coun-
try and trying to make the most Of
administration achievements.
Discussion to Break Loose.
Discussion of what has really been
accomplished by the reorganization OF
the oil and tobacco trusts is expected
to break forth in congress in large
volume. In the house, a number of the
democrats are watching the situation
closely. In the senate, the Cummins bill
for an appeal in the tobacco case is
still pending While the majority Of the
committee on judiciary has taken n
stand against an appeal Senator
Cummins and several others Of the
committee have joined in minority
report for an appeal. This will lead to
a spirited debate in the senate. as
Senator Cunlnins some time ago made
1t plain he did not intend to let the
! matter drop without struggle. Had
! the matter been disposed Of some days
ago. it would not have dragged in the
Standard Oil situation. But now in
view Of the strange situation with re-
spect to the dissolved Standard Oil
shares. it will be impossible to keep
this phase Of the trust question out OF
the debate.
Criticism is Due.
What is threatened Is sweeping criti-
cism Of the administration. particular
ly the department of justice, for its
course in falling to carry to the su-
preme court the vast problem OF how
| a trust should be reorganiZed in order
to bring it into conformity with the
|
case that Attorney General Wicker.
sham laid down" in this respect. 1r
spite Of the insistent demands of the
Independents and in spite of the fact
that it was everywhere realized that
there would be nothing final about
the procedure Of reorganization Of any
concern condemned under the Sherman
law until the supreme court had pass
ed on 1t, Attorney General Wickcrsharl
would not appeal. He told the Judiciary
committee of the senate that he got
what he wanted in the reorganization
decree and there was nothing to APP
peal. However. there was and is bitter
dissatisfaction among the independent
tobacco interests.
Political Possibilities.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the
situation presents some interesting
political possibilities. 1t need cause no
surprise if the republican and demo-
cratic opponents of the administration
alike, in both houses, are found max
ing attacks on the administration trust
policy for the purpose Of showing up
to the country it's alleged weakness and
ineffectiveness. And 1t will not be easy
to make defense, SO far as the presi-
dents friends are concerned. when
,, anybody can point to Standard Oil
quotations and to the fiour!shing con-
lition of the dissolved tobacco trust
elements.
The whole situation points to one
thing at least and that IS that when
Attorney General Wickersham set his
foot down on appealing the tobacco
case he was not considering the politi-
cal consequences. Nor. apparently. was
anybody else about the administration.
Had there been an appeal. there would
now be no room for the criticisms
which threaten to rain down on TIE
White House from the capitol.