Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-26
DEFENDS HIS VIEWS
Taft Declares Stand on Canal
Dispute Not Unpatriotic.
FOR LOWER COAST RATES
Thinks Subsidy" Justifable, But Is
Willing to Arbitrate.
WICKERSHAM ON TRUST EVILS
Stockholders Partly to Blame. He
Asserts at Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Banquet.
FOR LOWER COAST RATES
WICKERSHAM ON TRUST EVILS

BALTIMORE. January 25.-Presidap,
Taft. speaking tonight at the annual
banquet of the Merchants and Manu.
facturers' Association. defended tho od-
Hln1stration's attitude in the Panama
canal disagreement with England do
ciared that its Position was not un-
patriotic and dishOnorable. and said
that there was no reason for any one
TO oppose the proposal for arbitration
py an impartial tribunal Whether
you call it subsidy or not. am in
FAVOR of making the Transportation
rates between the coasts through the
Panama canal lower" said the Presi-
dent.
Now the question is. can We do that
uhder our international obligations?
think We can, and if you read the
authorities / think you'll find We may.
But If We are bound not to exempt
coastwlse vessels We can agree to sub
init the question to an impartial tri-
bunal
Admits Other Side Has Arguments.
I'm willing to admit there are argu-
ments on the other side.
We are willing, however tn ~,bn,it
ing in the attitude of the administra-
'ion' as have stated it, to show that
We have been dishonorable. There is
nothing to show a disposition to evade,
and We are willing to rest our case
with tribunal that is impartial.
The President concluded his sneecb
with an appeal for constitutional gov
ernment. endangered, he said, in the
last few months by those who proposed
remedies h.
concrete examples of their proposed re-
forms
Attorney General Wickersham. Rep
resentative Littleton of New York, Gov
GoidSDorough OF Maryland and Mayor
Preston of Baltimore were other speak
ers. The President left about IL o'clock
for Washington.
Wickersham Blames Stockholders.
Attorney General Wickersham took
for his subject Equal Opportunity."
and in the course of his remarks de-
clared that it is in large measure be-
cause of the gross neglect Of the at
fairs of their companies by the in
dividual stockholders that officers and
directors Of the corporations have in
so many instances utterly lost sight of
their trust relation. and used their Of
nclaI position and opportunities to en-
rich themselves without regard to the
interests of the stockholders. whose
agents they were.'
The same is true. he added, OF every
form of organization IL the honest.
law-abiding wOrkmen who make up
the rank and file of the labor organ
izations were more attentive to their
own real interests and did not put
themselves so absolutely in the hands
of practically self-perpetuating clique
of officers. organized labor would not
have been disgraced by the group Of
criminals who sought to retain their
power through a widely organized cam
paign of terrorism and destruction Of
property and savage disregard OF
the lives and safety Of the community
in carrying out their lawless enter
prises.
Defines Economic Legislation"
after ALL said the Attorney General
1.-The underlying philosophy Of the modern
so-called economic legislation of which
the Sherman antitrust law is a conspicu-
Gus example. is very simple. 1t is merely
to prevent particular group of people
from compelling others by force. violence,
fraud or unfair means from exercising
their rights as free men to pursue their
vocation in such lawful manner as they
think best.
1T is in recognition of these principles
that Congress has enacted and the ma
tional administration has sought to en-
force the laws against Illegal discrimina-
ton in transportation and undue re-
strants on trade. The effort has been to
save the initiative energy and enterprise
of the country from the deadening influ-
ence of governmental conduct OF private
business If this prove ineffective, con-
troll of business by national commission
will be inevitable with control of prices
of staple commodities. since price control
is the aim of monopoly and the concern
Of tho pr1hlic'