Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-20
BUSINESS SEEKS
TO STAY TAFT?
Attorney General Wickersham
Asserts Trusts Are After
Presidents Scalp.
FOR ILLICIT GAIN LOSS
Administration Is Defended for Its
Fearlesmess In Prosecution
Of Combinations.
FOR ILLICIT GAIN LOSS

Milwaukee, Wis. Feb. 20.-Attorney
General wickersham, in an address
here last night, declared that clamor
against the enforcement OF the Sher-
man antitrust law had been raised by
those interested in unfair business
methods and who have read in the &C
tive, 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 execu-
ton"
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:
HAS NEVER sLACKENED.
Under the wise, patriotic and efici-
ent administration OF William Howard
Taft this vigilant and persistent exer
ton OF the executive department In the
enforcement Of this law has never
slackened or failed. II the people I'M
derstand and approve, as they will and
must. with what splendid courage and
single-mindedness that great patriot
has directed the impartial enforcement
of this law, they will continue him IN
his high ONCE to so far work out the
problem of squarine business practice
with the laws OF the land as TO make
impossible for the future the recur-
renee of those abuses which in the past
have threatened the stability OF our
institutions through the unchecked
power OF continued wealth"
The attorney general gave a histor.
zeal sketch Of the suits and prosecu-
tons which have been brought under
the Sherman law since its enactment.
The republican platform of 1908, he
added, had referred to the prosecution
of illegal trusts and monopolies as
among the great accomplishments Of
the Roosevelt administration, and de-
clared that the Sherman law had been
a wholesome instrument for good In
the hands Of a wise and fearless ad.
ministration. Mr.. Taft, In his speech
OF acceptance OF the presidential nom
ination. he continued, had pledged him
self to the enforcement of that law.
CONTROL OUR BUSINESS.
Discussing the questions involved in
the civil and criminal suits begun un
der President Taft, Mr.. Wickersham
declared that they all involve some va
riety Of the same offense. namely the eff
fort to secure and retain control over
business by methods which are always
unfair-sometimes fair to each other
always unfair 10 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, or
the part of a limited number OF men tc
control as nearly as can be an entire
industry or the entire business in 8
particular part Of the country for theil
own benefit, and TO destroy that equal
fly Of opportunity in others which Il
the biTthright OF every American
These were the evils TO meet which
the Sherman law was enacted. and the
enforcement OF that law by the pres
VIZ oAAAAAAAoNA AVN hdo OtNh uAANNNCN
particularly against that sort Of unfaii
dealing which, when known and under
stood, is condemned by all right-mind
ed men. but which. working in dark
ness. cloaked under forms OF law anC
surrounded with the mantle Of respect
ability. 10 not so readily understood"
FOR MERCHANT MARINE.
The attorney general made an argu
ment for a restoration Of the American
merchant marine in his reference L
the antitrust suit which has beer
brought against the Hamburg.AmericaI
Steamship company and others in New
York. involving the question whether
the United States is powerless In tn,
face OF a combination of virtually al
the transatlantic steamship lines au
thoriEed by the law OF the European
countries where most OF them are dom
iciled.
He said: Perhaps no more usefu
Office could be performed by the depart
ment Of justice than to focus the at
tention OF the people upon the lament
able absence Of an American merchan