The Alaska citizen., 1912-01-01
'OEATHBED
 REPENTANCE"

WASHINGTON. Nov. T.. -"Death- bed repentance is the way the Democrats characterize the efforts of the Taft administration in the direction of trust regulation and tariff reform.
 If the Republican administration had honestly and earnestly under taken two years ago to do the things it now professes it's intention Of doing. the political situation would be quite different" said one promi- nent Democratic member of congress today. The truth is that the Repub- licans did not make an honest ef- fort 10 keep the pledges of the 1908 campaign. and now they have lost their opportunity. Instead of a friendly majority in the lower house, the administration finds the repre- sentatives organized against 1t. while the combination of Democrats and insurgents will control the senate in any matter where their interests are common.
 But the Republicans are no long CT under any illusion as to the tenn per and sentiments of the people. President Tafts long journey through the West merely emphasized the lessons of the last congressional elections, and he realizes. and the Republican congressman realize. that the country demands progressive legislation"
 Special interest attaches to the forthcoming presidential message. which, it is generally believed. will embody a progressive, and for Taft a radical, program of national leg islation. IL is known that the strengthening of the federal law to regulate and to punish the big cor psrations will be main feature of the message. though there is some difference of opinion as to the de tails A stricter definition of acts in violation of the Sherman law will probably be included in the presidential recommendations. it be- ing his expressed opinion that con gress ought to specify some particu- lar acts that are illegal, without at tempting to make completely in elusive definition of restraint of trade"
 The plan of national incorporation IT interstate corporations is also known to be approved by the pres ident, but just what prominence will be given to this as a feature of the message is as yet uncertain. There Is some difference of opinion among the members of the cabinet upon this subject, and the president thinks that any further dissension among Republican leaders would be partic- ulatly unfortunate under present con ditions. He would prefer to make his message rallyng cry of united party action rather than cause of new divisions.
 Democratic action against the trusts is likely to be along the lines of a criminal statute providing for the personal imprisonment of trust magnates violating the law. What is needed. Democratic con- gressmen will claim. is not so much multiplication of the powers of the federal courts, with consequent com pleXity of the laws. as some direct and simply provision for law enforce ment in way that will be terrify- ing to the lawbreaker.
 In view of the balance of parties, no one really expects to seen any ma. tional legislation of great import ance accomplished at the coming session, but there will be a tremen- dous effort by the parties and by ihui'iuudl statesmen to put them selves on record in favor of such legislation as they think is desired by the people.
 All these clever plans and fore casts of political action are likely to be seriously disarranged and up- set, if the vision of international wiseacres is not sadly amiss They predict that within the next year there will be the greatest confusion and strife in international affairs the world has ever seen Not one of the four great continents will be exempt from bloodshed in what will practically be a worldwide war, with China, Tripoli and Persia merely starting points for a conflagration that will sweep the globe.
 The real significance and inevit. able consequences of recent events has only been hinted at," is the cheerful way the pessimists estimate the possibilities of foreign affairs.