The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-05
TAT ADDS CHAPTER ID HISTORY OF TIE
 HARVESTER TRUST
Says Roosevelt Did Prevent Prosecution and Intimates
 Bonaparte Is Mistaken"
COLONEL ROOSEVELT
 IN THE STATE ALSO
Follows Usual Vein in Addressing Maryland Audiences = Primary Campaign Closes-Most Wig
 orous in History of State

orous in History of State
 Baltimore, May f-In the closing speech of a II hour campaign trip through Mary land. President Taft added new chapter to the history of the Harvester Trust here tonight Speaking to m audience that filled the Lyric theatre to the doors Mir, Taft declared Colonel Rdoseve prevent the prosecution of that "trustu after George N Perkins. one of it's di- reotors. and now Roosevelt supporter. had asked that tho trust be not taken irto the courts: intimated that Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General under Mir. | Roosevelt, was mistaken" when he said | Rat he lMr. TafD was present at a cab met meeting which decided against prose- cution. and said that the diary of Her bert Knox smith. then and now head of the bureau of corporations proved that at the time referred to he was on a trip around the world.
 Many Attacks
 Mir. Tafts explanation of the Harvester trust muddle was only one of the many points on which he attacked Colonel Roosevelt. He said his predecessors at- titude toward the trusts showed clearly that he wished to perfect q benevolent "despotismt that would discriminate be- tween the good and bad trusts. pointed out how Mir. Rooses cit had changed from his attitude of regarding his entrance into the presidential race as calamity to that of Icing an active campaigner for the nomination and insisted that MT. Roosevelt was striving to make this cam palgn one in which tho man who had little should be arrayed against him who had more.
 MT. Tafts Baltimore speech came at the end of day that took him over much of the central and southeastern part of Maryland He made seven speeches to crowds that were attentive and that cheered him frequently.
 In practically all of his early speeches the rresident brought in the name of Colonel Roosevelt and asked again ana again for square deai'
 The Presidents Baltimore speech was delivered just before ne left Tor Wash ihgtan, where he win take breakfast Aru lppciieon ieasing for Cincinnati for a's short stay.
 Truth About Harvester
 In f he said iil part
 The truth abont the Harvester trust Is that Mr Bonaparte thought it ought 10 be prosecuted. Mr George W. Perkins, whoaNas !. director in the Harvester trust, then director in the Steel trust and also member of tie firm of Morgan x Co, came over to Washington and pleadeo with MT. Herbert l<nox. Smith of the bureau of corporations not to bring the suit ana induced MT. Smith to make u report to Mir Roosevelt, in which lie set forth that the Steel trust and the Har- Nester trust and the other Morgan inter- ests had attempted to carry out Alrg ltoosevelts idea of publicity, and there fore they ought not to be subjected to prosecution, even though they were tech- nicslly guilty, threatening that If they were prosecuted they would fight the ad- mmistration. The result that Mr. Smith made a report on September 2l 10 Mi. Roosevelt. In which he detailed this conversation and recommended that no suit be brought until he had made d full investigation. Before this report was made by the assistant district attors ney ol North Dakota and by the district attorney of Minnesota that there was ground fur prosecuting the Harvester trust. that this trust had violated the anti-trust law. Between September Il and November 1 the matter was under consideration, and on November the President directed MT Herbert Knox Smith to notify Mr. Perkins that no pros ecution would be begun 2ntil after the in- ycstigation. That settled the matter be- cause that Is what MT. Perkins asked for"
 Denies Roosevelts Charge
 NOW. MT. Roosevelt says that was present at the cabinet meeting in which it was decided not to prosecute the trust until after the investigation. As a mat ter of fact, I was not in the country be- tween August and December. 1 had been to the Philippines and was on my way around the world. Mir Bonaparte says that the cabinet meeting took place in January This is altogether a mistake. as it Is shown by Mir Smiths diary that the matter was decided in November. These are the circumstances uer1rng 10 show what MT. Roosevelt means bs good and bad trusts. He means to introduces benevolent despotism in which he meage to select the trusts which he thinks ouson to continue and smash those he thitam ought not to continue. It is one of tksss. pleasant arrangements for a. man ". likes 10 exercise arbitrary power.
 ''I am not attacking Alr. Roosevelt IS influenced by improper motives in his att titude toward the trusts. l am only poinee ing out that in view of his attitude to- ward the trusts he is in a very weak po- sition to charge me with being under tie control of the interests.
 MT. Roosevelt's assumption of virtue is so intense that 1t is sufficient to purify any one when he becomes a supporter of Mir. Roosevelt even though 1t be a trust and even though it be a director of trust contributing to his campaign.
 Prosecutions Based on Fact
 The prosecutions of this admlnistra- ton are based solely on the violations of the statute. The criticism that has been made of my administration is that navo been too thorough in the prosecution of trusts. Certainly 1 have exempted none on account of the pleas of their direc- tors and there are no contributors that know of who can point to any immunity from prosecution in my administration.
 ''l propose with your permission to 70 over few of the positions and state ments that he has made in this regard to show you how far he has fallen from the standard that he himself stes up of a square deal
 'As to popular government and his mis- quotation.
 AS to bosses and my association with them and his association.
 AS to the I.orimer case and his mis- leading the people of Illinois
 "As to the character of the election of delegates for me and for him.