Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-21
TAFT'S RECORD is APPROVED
Presidents Followers in Wisconsin
Demand denomination.
WICKERSHAM TALKS ON TRUSTS
Attorney General Declares ClamoI
Against Enforcement of sherman
Law Raised by Those Inter-
ested in Unfair Business,

MILWAUKEE, Feb. a.-Unqualified ap.
provsl was given President Tatt's ad-
ministration by large representation OF
his followers from all parts Of Wisconsin
at banquet last night following q confer
ence at which delegates-at-large to the
republican national CONVENTION were nom
mated.
Attorney General George W. Wicker
sham was the guest Of honor at the BAN
quet and gave the principal address. tax
ing for his subject The Administration
Antitrust Record"
The resolutions which were prepared by
committee appointed at the conference
were read at the conclusion Of Mr.. Wick
ersham's address and adopted unani-
mously. The document records approval
of President Taft's record in the presi-
dental chair and demands that he be
renominated and reelected.
Speech of wickersham.
Mr.. Wickersham declared clamor against
the enforcement of the Sherman anti
trust law had been raised by those In
terested in unfair business methods and
who have read In the active. vigilant
prosecution of that law under President
Taft, the doom Of their practices, and,
who, threatened with the loss OF Illicit
gain, seek TO destroy both the law that
condemns them and the executive that
brings them to execution"
Reviewing In detail the administra-
tons antitrust record" the attorney
general rose to this climax in tribute to
President Taft for his course in en-
forcing the law:
Under the wise, patriotic and effi-
cient administration Of William Howard
Taft. this vigilant and persistent exer-
ton of the executive department in the
enforcement OF this law has never slack
ened nor failed. II the people under
stand and approve. as they will and must.
with what splendid courage and single
mindedness that great patriot has d.
rected the impartial enforcement of
this law, they will continue him In his
high office to so far work out ths
problem OF squaring business practice
with the laws of the land as to make
impossible for the future the recurrence
OF those abuses which in the past have
threatened the stability OF our institu-
tons through the unchecked power Of
continued wealth.
The attorney general gave an historical
sketch Of the suits and prosecutions
which have been brought under the sher-
man law since its enactment.
PIeged to Enforce Law.
The republican platform of 1908. he
added, had referred to the prosecution OF
illegal trusts and monopolles as among
the great accomplishments of the Roose-
welt administration and declared that tho
Sherman law had been a wholesome IN
strument for good in the hands of a wise
and fearless administration. Mr.. Taft
In his speech Of acceptance OF the pres-
Dental nomination. he continued. had
pledged himself to the enforcement OF
that law.
Discussing the questions involved in the
civil and criminal suits begun under
President Taft. Mr.. wickersham declared
that they all involve some, variety OF
the same offense. namely the effort to
secure and maintain control over busi-
ness by methods which are always I'M
fair-sometimes unfair to each other,
always unfair to outsiders and always
unfair to the public in general. One and
all of them involve the effort, more or
less subtle. more or less brutal, on tho
part Of limited number OF men to con-
troll as nearly as may be an entire in
dustry or the entire business In q par
ticular part of the country for their own
benefit and to destroy that equality OF
opportunity in others which is the birth
right Of every American. These were the
evils to meet which the Sherman law
was enacted, and the enforcement OF that
law by the present administration has
been directed particularly against that
sort Of unfair dealing which when known
and understood is condemned by an right
minded men, but which, working In dark
ness, cloaked under forms Of law and
surrounded with the mantle Of respecta-
biiity, Is not so readily understood"
II