The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-03
STREET SCOUT
Continued From Page one.

SbAAlAAAA%0 pAOhA Z u80 SAGS -
to every individual. thus enhancing the
hopes and aspirations Of the people
and perpetuating their liberties. This
was the intent and purpose OF the
Sherman antitrust law, and all good
citizens were expected to abide by it.
1t will also be remembered that a
few men of the stripe of Mr., Perkins,
setting themselves up as being superior
to the law, boldly proceeded to or
ganize a multitude of trusts in defi-
ance of this solemn statute Of the
country. One of these-the one in
which MI. Perkins is deeply inter-
ested-was framed up in 1902, o
after Theodore Roosevelt became pres
ident Of the United States. 1 have
always believed that it was the duty
Of the president to have indicated to
his friend. Mr.. Perkins. that in put
ting this insidious trust together he
was acting unlawfulIy, and / will do
Mr.. Perkins the justice to say that I
think he would have needed the warn
ing, for it is no light thing for a man
to deliberately violate the law when
he knows that the administering hand
Of justice is against him.
But at no point did Mr.. Perkins de-
sist; at no point was he checked. The
fact Is that during the whole of the
Roosevelt administration the harvester
trust was protected from prosecution;
nor was any other monopoly in which
Mr.: Perkins had an interest interfered
with. On the contrary. much was done
by President Roosevelt to help the
Morgan trusts along.
For example, in 1907 the steel trust,
knowing we'll it's ground, sent It's rep
r~esentatives to see President Roose-
welt, and they came away with execu-
tive permission-think of it!-to alb
sorb he greatest competitor of that
mammoth corporation. 1t was about
this time. too, and Immediately after
a visit to the White House by Mr..
Perkins. that President Roosevelt, in
a private letter, instructed his attor-
ney general not to prosecute the har-
vester trust, although that oficial was
armed with evidence sufficient to have
vindicated the law.
These two remarkable incidents are
matters of public record, and therefore
cannot be successfully disputed now
although when / exposed the facts rel
alive to the latter incident last April,
was duly decorated with the Order
of Annanias. But let that pass.
Neither of the two old political par
ties being agreeable to Mr.. Perkins
scheme of trust regulation" he and
or their own, whose policy simply con
templates the -legalization of those
\ trusts. organized In violation of the
Sherman law, Hence Mr.. Perkins
anxiety about the rule of the people,
through the third term party whose
platform declares for the regulation
OF trusts" Hence the agreeableness
of Wall street with Roosevelt's policy.
The mere act of regulation implies
legitimacy, In other words, Mr.. Per-
kins would have his victims-the g.
600, 600 American farmers who are now
obliged to buy his goods-he would
have them not only condone his past
onenses against the majesty of the
law, he would have them accept also
his pretended solution of the trust
problem, and to do this he would have
Them put his trust regulator /" back
in the White House. He wants a
president who will appoint a commits
sion that will deal as leniently with
the harvester trust for all time to come
as President Roosevelt and his bu-
rsau of corporations dealt with it,
1902 to 1909-fatal years, indeed for
American institutions. as will appear
when the history of this country shall
be written.
There is but one way by which Mr.,
Perkins and his Kind may deserve
consideration and be entitled to 3
place in the list of desirable citizens
and that is for them to plead guilty
to have broken the laws Of their coun.
try and accept the punishment which
the government suits contemplate
thus voluntarily dissolving the raonopo.
lies explicitly forbidden by existing
law and permitting a restoration 81
trade to natural conditions, so that an,
me possessing the ability and the
credit may enter the field of industry
upon equal terms with his neighbor
Personally 1t makes no difference tt
me who is president of the United
States, and yet / cannot but think tina
il Mr.. Taft had chosen to disregard
his oath of Office and permit the stee
and harvester trusts to go unpublished
J Theodore Roosevelt would not now b,
a candidate for the presidency. It Il
one Of the strange condolences Of thii
campaign that he and Mr.. Perkins go
extremely busy about the time thes,
suits were instituted. Failing to con
troll the president they are now con,
Z spring to defeat him.
Another remarkable fact is that
! large number or the bull moose lead
ers r men who had met with fire
quent political disappointments. I d,
not expect to see many of them ris,
! upon the ashes Of their past ambitions
] Nor do / even imagine that CoIone
Roosevelt is to be president again. Hi
sun is fast setting. And as for Mr.