Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Aug. 21, 1912, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE ASSOCIATED PEES DISPATCHES LAST EDITION 4:00 P. M. Weather Forecast: LOCAL SHOWERS. VOL. XVII., 167. ASHEVILLE, N .0, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 21. 1912. PRICE THREE CENTS - P8DG&VES RE RIDICULED Sutherland's Speech Breaking the News to "Sunny Jim" Sherman Handles T. R. Without Gloves. BIG CROWD WITNESSES UTICA NOTIFICATION Sherman Looks Fit Despite His Recent Illness Pres ident Taft Wires Congratulations. Utlca, Aug. 21. Utica devoted Itself today to the notification of James B. Slierman of his nomination to the vice-presidency on the republican ticket. Early trains brought crowds as the event was planned to make a holiday for the central and northern sections of the state. Sherman has boon ill lately, but appeared fit for the event today. In accepting the nomination, Sher man said: "I approve the admirable statement of republican principles and achievements, made In his ad dress of acceptance recently by President Taft. Our opponents are divided into two camps, rivaling each other in their efforts to excel in dis turbing the civic and economic or der of the country. The new party thrusts itself forward in the vacuum left by the phantoms of other par ties." Sherman declared Wilson a peda gogue and not a statesman. Senator Sutherland of Utah was spokesman for the committee which today notified Vice-President James Schoolcraft Sherman of his nomina tion by the Chicago republican con vention. Most of Senator Sutherland's speech. aside from a short declaration of principles of the republican party and a tribute to Mr. Sherman, was composed of caustic references to the progressive party and Its recent con vention which nominated Colonel Roosevelt and Governor Hirai i John son for president and vice-president. "We shall have arrayed aifaliiE' us In (lie coming campaign our ancient and hereditary enemy, the democratic party," said he. "In addition we shall be called upon to contend with romo former associates who have con eluded to abandon their amiable cus tom of firing upon the flag they have been following, in order that they may engage In the more honorable, but no more effectual occupation of assault ing it from the front. "For the next few months our ears are to be filled with the voice of the malcontent, strident and many-keyed, calling upon the people to forsake the tried and beaten paths of constitu tional government, along which they have walked with sure feet for more than a century, and enter upon a personally-conducted pilgrimage through the political wilderness to a promised land ui shadowy and unsubstantial as a desert mirage. "The advance agents of this delir ious excursion tarried a tew days ago at Chicago, long enough to pool their individual grievances, visions and vagaries in a bewildering farture of Impractical political nostrums' sucli never before has been collected at one time outside the vio lent wards of a madhouse. And thus the so-called progressive party was horn, its solo excuse for existence be ing the unfounded claim that Its nom inee for the presidency was defeated I'" a like nomination by stolen votes at Ihc republican conventio n " RovIowh Fraud Charges. Senator Sutherland briefly reviewed the question of contested delegates at the republican convention with the contention that President Tuft's nomi nation was got fairly and honestly. He referred to the published statement hut some of the Roosevelt Contests had been set afoot fpr a psychological J encot. "It would be a strange rule of evi dence which would require us to ac ('7t the testimony of a buccaneering PyarhologlM who confesses to an at tempt t purloin the larger portion of "n hnnert man's property, as conclu lvp ''vldence of the psychologist's title to the remainder of the honest man's possessions," he continued. "There never has been In all history & more unique convention than that ! ' Ihe progressive party at Chicago. Heretofore, when a party has been or ganized, Its organizers have In advance "itertalned at least a suspicion re specting their principles but the del egates to this convention, wholly Ig norant of the things for which they Mood, waited, with patiently folded haiirlH. the appearance of Mr. Roose Ve't li the convention to tell them wht l hey believed. ""pon his appearance he was re vived with reverent adoration. With Plrit of self-abnegation never wit hewed sine tha charge of tho Light brigade at Balakiava Thelr's not to reason why, tftelr's hut to do and die' sort of exaltation led by the grand ""iing man from Indiana, devout but """lul the assembled vessals pro "almed their Joyous intellectual sur' fender to the feudal lord In the fol lowing hymn of driveling Irrcsponsl- I Wllty: Kollow, follow, We will follow Roosevelt, Anywhsra, everywhere, Ws will follow 1. 1 in (Contlnuea an page 4) HEADQUARTERS QPEIEBDT WEBB Chairman Predicts 75,000 Ma jority for Craig Junior Order Council Sesson. Gazette-News Bureau, The Hotel Raleigh, Raleigh, Aug. 21. Charles A. AVebb of Asheville, chair man of the state democratic executive committee, opened headquarters in the Yarborough hotel today, announced several appointments a.nd predicted a majority for Locke Craig of 75.000. "Prospects for democratic victory are better than I have ever known them," he said. "The democrats are united to a man on presidential, con gressional, state and county tickets, while the republicans are hopeless; divided." Chairman Webb has not announced his office force.- 1'or the present Sec retary Brock and Miss Annie Proman of Asheville will compose the force. which will lie augmented as occasion demands. Pour candidates for vice-councillor of the state council of the Junior Or der and a spirited contest for the next meeting place of the council interested delegates here today. Judge N. L. Kure of Greensboro will be promoted to state councillor. The contest for vice-councillor is among J. W. Seehrest of High Point, W. C. Pennell of Ashe ville, J. M. Sharp of Madison and Paul Jones of Goldsboro. Although Golds boro, Durham and High Point are likely to ask for the next meeting, the probability is that the state coun cil will vote to hold sessions at Ashe ville in one year and at Wrightsville or Morehead the next. The severe heat of August Is responsible for the talk. FROM ATLANTIC TO GULF Georgians May Use Panama Machinery for Big Ditch Through State. Atlanta, Aug. 21. Local interests will soon submit a proposition to the United States government for Utilizing Panama canal machinery in the con struction of a canal across south Georgia to the gulf of Mexico, short ening the water route from the At lantic to the gulf by two days, re claiming the Okeefenokee' swamp and using the Sewanee and St. Mary's riv ers for a part of the route, according to an announcement here today. USING MAIL' BAGS TO SMUGGLE OPIUM One Method of Circumventing Amer ican Customs Authorities Is Discovered at Honolulu. Honolulu, Aug. 21. Smugglers of opium in their efforts to circumvent the American customs have been us ing mall bags as carriers for the con traband drug. The discovery was kept a secret to enable several months' investigation. One bag on a recent steamer from the orient was stuffed with J5000 worth of opium. The mall matter it generally con tained had been destroyed and opium substituted during the voyage. MAN KILLS HIMSELF Suicide Was Registered in New York as A. W. Rogers of Jack son, Miss. New York, Aug. 21. That part of Broadway known as the Rlalto was the scene of another shooting today, when a young man registered, at h hotel as A. W. Rogers of Jackson, Miss., suddenly told a girl with whom he was that he intended to kill him self, pulled a revolver and sent a bul let through his brain. It Is believed the name was as sumed as Initials on the man's fob and cuff buttons were "A. F. Y." Rogers came here a month ago and appeared to be a man of means as a i. e quantity of bills anil much jew elry were found nmong his effects. Jackson, Miss., Aug. 21. A. W. Rogers who killed himself at New York cannot be Identified here by the Initials on his cuff links. It Is not thought Ihe man war prominent If he resided here. GEORGIA PRIMARY Democrats Are Voting Tor Candidates for Governor, Senator. Con gressmen and Assemblymen. Atlanta. Aug. II Georgia demo crats began balloting this morning for candldatea for governor, United States senator, congressmen, state officials and members of the general assembly. The gubernatorial con- test Is between John M. Slaton, presi dent of the senate, Joe Hill Hall of Macon and Hooper Alexander of De Kalb county. Dork I aboro rs on Strike. Fort William. Ontario, Aug. 21. A thousand dock laborers of the Can adian Pacific railway here last nlgtn tolned 1000 Canadian Northern men of Port Arthur in a strike for a wagi Increase of five cents an hour. There has boen ho violence. MURDER PLEAS DUETBMORRDW Becker and Others Accused in the Rosenthal Case Will Be Arraigned for Crime. JOHN DOE INQUIRY MAY HELP PROSECUTOR Preliminary Proceeding Be fore Judge Goff Is Ex pected to Reveal Evi dence of Corruption. New York, Aug, 21. Before Sam Schepps told his story of the Rosen thal murder conspiracy to the district attorney he obtained a written assur ance that he would not be indicted. Schepps Is now held on a vagrancy charge whicli cannot be long sustained yet he feels safe In the hands of the district attorney until he testifies at the trials. In the meanwhile ho will live in one of-the best hotela New York, Aug. 21. The John Doe police graft inquiry is to be under taken several weeks before the calling of the trials of those indicted for the murder of Rosenthal. Preliminary proceedings before Supreme Justice Goff are expected to strengthen the cases against Becker and six others indicted yesterday for the Rosenthal killing, by unearthing new evidence of corruption. Becker and others w'iil he called to plead tomorrow. The grand jury also will hold a brief ses sion Thursday before 10 days adjourn ment. The jury was so pleased yesterday when It found the indictments were returned by a unanimous vole that all cheered. On evidence unexpectedly strength ened by the testimony of Sam Schepps and "Jack" Zelig, the East Side gang leader, the grand jury yes terday re-indicted Police Lieutenant Charles Becker for the murder of Herman Rosenthal and handed down als' the unexpected indictments against six of his. alleged tools. They are "Gyp the Blood" and "Lefty Louie," who are still at large, "Dago Frank" Circftcl and "Whitey" Lewis, now In the Tomjps, Jack Sullivan, who is alleged to have given the "murder signal," and William Shapiro, driver of the "murder car." Sam Schepps, who was before the jury two hours, did even more toward implicating Becker in the murder plot tha.n had been -anticipated by District Attorney Whitman, who expected no more than u corroboration of the story told by Jack Rose. Jack Zelig also supported Rose's story, It is learned. Zelig told of hap penings before the murder tending to show the alleged determination of Becker to get rid of Rosenthal and Schepps related events after the mur der which pointed back to the police officer's alleged preparations to car ry out his determination. Schepps told tiic jury, it was learned, that he acted as a go-between for Rose ami Becker, while Rose was in hiding at the home of Harry Pollok. He also repeated his conversations with Beck er and Rose about the murder, and it was this testimony which came as unexpected news to the grand jury and the district attorney. The pros ecutor believes this evidence ma terially strengthened Rose's story that Becker was Instigator of the murder. "clig'o testimony was a story of bow decker attempted to get him Into his power and to take pari in the murder plot. All Zelig had to do with it, he said, was to recommend to Jack Rose gunmen who would do the "job." Zellg's lart in Tragedy. How Becker "framed" him on the charge of carrying concealed weapons was the gang leader's first chapter, and In support of his charge Ujat Pecker's men "planted" a gun on him, live witnesses testl'led that 7ellg when arrested In an Fast Side restaurant demanded thai he be publicly search ed. Tlie demand was refused, loiter Rose had come to him. Zelig said, and tol him oeker wanted Rosenthal put out of the way and would Zelig kindly furnish the men to kill him. In re turn BetVer would have the charge ngainst him quashed. Zollg's reply, he said, was that he would have noth ing to do with the murder himself, but he did suggest the names of men who would do the "Job." The sum of M0, 000 was then put up with n surety company by Rose, Vnllon and Weber for a hall bond re leasing Zelig, which, nci'ordlug to the witness, ho nnderst- nds was by orders from Hi police lieutenant. More of Becker's hank deposits came to light yesterday. On April 24 rtecker deposited $2000 in the hank for savings and on April 25 his wife deposited J2000 In the Franklin Rav ings bank, bringing the total of the nollre officer's deposits to the neigh borhood of $90,000. , Revived rumors that Becker was nrcpnred to make a confession were denied by John F. Mclntyre of his counsel. "Becker will not say a word 'if nny kind to anybody In connec Mon with his case until he takes the witness stand In his own defense" said the lawyer. Georgian Nominated Consul. Washington, Aug. 21. David J. D. Myers of Georgia was today nominat ed by the president to be nsul at Porto Cotter, Honduras. RUSH EUNBOATTQ HUM PORT i I American Minister at Mana gua Asks for Increase in Naval Force. Washington, Aug. 21. Arrange ments to place 2000 bluejackets on Nicoraguan soil .within 10 days to protect foreign lives and property and keep up communication have been made. Secretary Meyer issued rush orders for the cruiser California at San Diego to proceed to Panama and take on the marines being rushed from Philadelphia. Washington; Aug. 21. In addition to bluejackets and marines on duty i in Nicaragua, American Minister jWoitzel has asked for details of men at Corinto and San Juan del Sur. It jis necessary to hold these ports that communication may lie maintained between the cable station and the le gation at Managua. The gunboat ' Denver, under rush (orders, should reaeli Corinto Sunday , with ISO men. Managua. Nicaragua. Aug. IS. (de jlayed in transmission I Nearly the I entire detachment of r, 00 Nicaraguan I troops, comprising the garrison of jtho city of Leon, to the north of Ma nagua was massacred by a force of .insurgents last night, according to re , ports which reached the capital to jday. I On Friday news was received by the government that the liberals at Leon had risen in revolt and General iChamorro dispatched troops to sup ! press the movement and reinforce i the garrison of the city. The government troops on reach- ing Leon camped on tile plaza. In the center of the town. The insurgents, j who greatly out-numbered the gov ernment force, attacked the city Sat I urday and after a fierce engagement jibe garrison surrendered. Instead of j holding their captives prisoners of war alter their Submission, it is re j ported that the troops were slaugh i tered by Ihe rejaels. Out of a force j of 500 men all were killed except 70. IS Senator Says U. S. Forces En ter Troubled Country at Capitalists' Instance. Washington, Aug. 21. Senator Ba con today introduced a resolution au thorizing an investigation of the land ing on Nicaraguan soil of American forces. He scored the state depart ment for its attitude-towards Nicara gua, declaring that in his judgment the state department is violating law by using the army and navy of the United States In Nicaragua, lie said that when the matter Wj.o. sine,? to the bottom "we find the real reafon for American interference. Some time ago a treaty was negotiated by which the United States furnish agents with authority to collect customs of that country and to use the proceeds tt pay certain loans made by Americai capitalists. The senate has refused to ratify this treaty and in my judg ment will not natlfy it." BARRED OIL MONEY Roosevelt Asserts Ihe Standard Did Not Contribute to His Cam paign Fund in 1909. Oyster Bay, N. Y.. Aug. 21. Assert ing that he had forbidden the repub lican national committee to accepl Standard Oil money in 1904, Roosevelt Issued a statement in reply to a pub lished Interview In which Senator Pen rose of Pennsylvania was quoted as saying he believed the $25,00 check sent hint in 1004 by the Standard Oil company was used by the republican national committee to help in carrying New York state for Roosevelt, The candidate said that In 1904 he had written to Oeorge B. Cortelyoit. republican national chairman, direct ing no campaign contribution should he reeclved from the company. He said that If an such contribution was received It was without his knowledge and In spite of his prohibition. GIANTS TO PLAY CUBS Richie and Tnrau Probably Will Be Opposing SbilMinen In Game at Chicago. Chicago, Aug. 21. Bn route from St. Louis to Pittsburg, the New York Giants stopped oft at Chicago today to play a postponed game with the Cuba The weather is fair and a big crowd is expected. Ground-rules pre vailed as In the recent games, so that a hit Into the crowd counts only two bases. Richie, who has fallen heir to Pfcls- ter's name the "lilant-klller" because of his effectiveness against the New York club, Is slated to pitch for Chi cago. Tesrau, who won for the Giants the second game of the last series, may pitch for the visitors. Before the game the Tubs were five and a half games behind the (Hants. Falls of RepaKsage Over Veto. Washington, Aug. 21. The legisla tive appropriation bill failed of re passage in the senate over the .presi dent's veto, the vote being 34 to 27, while the two-thirds necessary to over-ride was it. STRONG EVIDENCE 'FOB PROSECUTION "Witnesses Tell Story of the Killing of E. B. Swinney by Clyde Melton. TWO SPECIAL VENIRES DRAWN THIS MORNING One for Trial of William Edwards and One for That of Jeff Cannon. A great part of the morning session of Superior court was taken up with tho drawing of two special venlries for the trial of the cases of state vs. William Edwards, charged with crim inal assault, and state vs. Jeff Cannon, charged with the fatal shooting of his wife, it was about 11 o'clock be fore tho trial of tho case against ... 'e Melton, charged with the mur ler i Ed. B. Swinney, was taken up. Some of the most important- wit nesses had been heard yesterday aft ernoon, and this morning the officers who arrested Melton and atterhied to riwinncy, and Mrs. Swinney, the wid ow of the deceased, were examined. Also four men were sworn to testify to the good character of the state's witness, Matthews, who testified yes terday afternoon. Patrolman Noel said that he heard the shots and had riearlv reached the corner of North Main and College streets, when he met Clyde Melton, who told him he had shot Swinney. The officer asked if the man was dead and Melton said, "If he is not, he will be; I shot him through the heart." He heard the witness say something about a knife to Patrolman Sprouse, but did not pay much attention to it. Cross-examined, he insisted that he lid not remember what was said about the knife. Patrolman Snyder said that he went to where Swinney was lying in he street, and Swinney told him that Melton had shot him In the back and then in the breast. He found a knife clinched in the wounded man's hand. It was a small spring knife. lie hnd kept It since but had. never aeen able to open it. Mrs. Swinney testified as to the leath statements of her husband and jwore that she had never seen him with a knife like the one exhibited. Defense Begins Evidence. The state rested just after Mrs. Swinney gave her evidence, and the iefense began the introduction of tes timony, which created something of a sensation, in that it was shown by Ihe testimony of two witnesses that Swinney told them that Melton had shot him in the breast tirst and then in the hack. Melton was also put on he stand, and the prosecution was cross-examining him when court re cessed at noon. Dr. Dan Sevier told the court where the deceased was wounded and :hen stated that Swinney had told him that Melton shot him first in the breast, and as he turned to leave he was shot in the back. Capt. W. H. Byrd, a state's witness, said that Swinney told him practically the fame. According to Melton's statement he was in a pool room just before the shooting. Swinney called to him and he want to meet him. Swinney stop ped him and said, "We'll settle this thing right now; 1 am going to cut vour head off." Swinney had a knife In his hand and struck at him. Swin ney had hold of Melton's shirt with his left hand. Prisoner Jumped back tnd reached for his pistol. Swinney itrUCk al him again with the knife ind Melton fired at his breast. He nuld not see if the shot took effect for the smoke, and tired again. Swin ney fell and attempted to get u . (,risoner shot over his body. Swlnmy 'aid, "Don't let him shoot me anv nore," and prisoner said, "Don't g t lip and I won't shoot you." Prlsoni r had met Swinney on South Main street that morning and Swin ney tried to talk to him, hut Melton walked away. Will Swlnk had told prisoner that Swinney said he would even with Melton before night. Reynolds Morris had told him about the same, adding something In con nection with Melton's wife. Witness had had several quarrels with Swin ney and had run him away from his home. it Is not likely that the case will be concluded this afternoon. The testimony for the state brought out yesterday afternoon would appear to have been very damaging to the defendant, Melton. Two witnesses swore that Melton shot Swinney as the latter was walking away from Mellon, and another. R. K. Matthews, told that Melton asked his nld In framing up a plan by which It would ho made to appear that Swinney had been about to attnek Melton with a knife, which the witness refuged to do. Skfter Coroner K. R. Morris had tes tified as to the cause of Swlnney'r death, W. B. Thompson, an eye wit ness, swore that he saw Mellon nnd Swinney talking together near the place of the tragedy; that Swinney turned to walk awny and Melton shot hlin In the back; Swinney fell, and then Melton shot him In the breast; a third shot did not take effect. Will Rockett said he was about 21 or 23 steps away when 8wlnney war shot. He saw the two men talking to gether; Swinney turned to walk away and Melton shot him when he was some six stops off; 8wlnney fell, and Melton walked up to him and s'lot again Into his breast: Melton fired the (Continued on page I) BIG SUPPLY SILL IS AGAIN VETOED President Disapproves Appro priation Measure to Save the Commerce Court. Washington, Aug. 21. Within an hour after President Taft had for a teeond time vetoed the legislative, ex ecutive and judicial appropriation bill because it carried a provision abolish ing the Commerce court, the house repassed it 154 to 53 over his veto. It now goes to the senate. In vetoing the judicial bill. Taft is holding his own salary and those of every United States judge, court em ploye and members of congress. Ma jority Leader Underwood declared prior to the repassage of the bill that if the senate refused to over-ride the veto the house would agree to recede from its position abolishing the court, permitting adjournment Saturday. Washington, Aug. 21. The presi dent today again vetoed the legislative, executive and judicial approprltalon bill because It still carried an amend ment abolishing th commerce court, which the house and senate insisted upon Including in the re-framed measure. The provision limiting the tenure of civil service employes to seven years, which provoked the first veto was not Included In the bill the second time. II ktiui line IF IIIEB III State Department Will Pro cure Information as to Fate of Rogers. Washington, Aug. 21. Representa tive Norris of Nebraska induced the president to send to the house all In formation he has or in the "possession of the state department in regard to the alleged killing of James W. Rog ers, an American citizen, by British soldiers in Africa and to Inform the house of representatives what ac tion, if any, has been taken or is contemplated to Investigate the killing of the said James W. Rogers." The resolution was referred to the foreign affairs committee. Rogers is a Callfornlan. Representative Sulzer of New York, chairman of the foreign affairs com mittee, communicated with the state department and was advised that the department was investigating the mat ter and that all the facts that could be obtained would be furnished to the committee. Mr. Norris said he regarded the shooting as an outrage on an Ameri can citizen, so far as the available In formation shows. He declared It seemed that Rogers, as an AmerlcSn, charged with offenses that did not warrant killing him, was fatally shot under ironclad orders of the British government carried out on Belgian soli. At the state department, which has no direct Information on the tragedy, it was stated that the house resolu tion would have to be made the basis of an Inquiry directed to the Ameri can embassy in London. The embassy, it was stated, would have no difficulty In securing access to the report of the lirilish sergeant on the tragedy. Regarding the right of British sol diers to kill a poacher without trial, officials of the state department would express no opinion. The question re ported to have been raised by Rogers as he was dying on the right of the British troops to attack him on Bel gian soil, complicates the case, though the Issue Involved would appear to concern C.reat I itain and Belgium, iccordlng to unofficial opinions of de partment heads. If It should appear, the' p. lnted out, that Rogers was killed In B lulan ter ritory and there was any ground for demanding redress, the United States might look to Belgium Instead of Great Rrltaln for Justice, leaving Belgium to seek reparation In turn from Great Britain. HUTTON QUITS CASE Judge Says He Formed Opinion In Ihe Previous Harrow Trial. I.o Angeles, Aug. 21. Before op posing counsel could offer argument today, Judge Hutton summarily re lieved himself of participation In nnv further prosecution of Clarence Dor - row by assigning to Presiding Judge Willis the cae In which Dnrrow Is accused of bribing Juror Bain In th M. Vim. .ia trial. Judge Hutton nn nounced that because of u lixed opin ion formed from hearing the evidence In the recent Darrow trial he had no desire to preside In the trial on the Kaln Indictment. BIG WEDDINGCAKE Tho One Presented to Philadelphia Girl by Her Father Weighs SOO Pounds. Philadelphia. Aug. 11. One of the most extraordinary gifts ever present ed a bride Is the 109 pound wedding cake given to Mini Mamie Morgansteln by her father. Among Its ingredients ware 100 pounds of raisins, 100 pounds 'rents, 20 dosen ggs, 75 pounds of sugar and 20 r .us "ay It will las. or 26 year melting or crumbling. ' MULES TAFT TRUST BUSTING Roosevelt, Replying to Wick- ersham, Says He Accom plished ' ' Considerably Less Than Nothing." NORTHERN SECURITIES CASE NO PARALLEL To Standard Oil and Tobacco Suits, Declares Mr. Roose veltPresent Policy "Preposterous." Oyster Bay, Aug. 21. Attorney General Wickersham and his methods of dealing with the trusts were held up to ridicule by Col. Roosevelt in a reply to a statement prepared by the attorney general. The progressive leader declared that Mr. Wickersham was aware of the speciousness of the arguments which were given therein to prove inconsistency of the present Roosevelt attitude toward trust bust ing. He asserted that Jie policy followed by Mr. Wickersham in the trust cases w-as one of "make lielieve strangling" and- preposterous from every stand point The only more absurd method of tackling the problem was, he said, that put forward by the Stanley com mittee. "The two plans are alike," he con cluded, "and Mr. Wickersham and Mr. Stanley can debate as to which pre fers the comparison." The attorney general in his state ment made a striking comparison be tween the number of trust prosecu tions begun and concluded during ex President Roosevelt's tenure of office and the very much larger number of such cases which are to be credited to the Taft administration. He point ed out further than the Standard Oil trust dissolution which, according to the colonel, "accomplished consider ably less than nothing," was based bn those principles of pro rata distribu tion approved by the former president in the Northern Securities case while he was an occupant of the White. House. On both these points Col. Roosevelt desired to enter a protest. "The more suits against the trusts that are brought to a conclusion the way Mr. Wickersham brought the Standard Oil and tobacco trust cases the better It will be for the trusts," he declared. Trust Really Benefited. "If Mr. Wickersham will conduct to a similar conclusion a few more suits of the same kind," the colonel added with emphasis, "he will con fer benefits upon the trusts such as all of them put together cannot, con fer upon themselves. The worst blow the anti-trust law has ever received has been given by the decisions ren dered under Mr. Wlckersham's guid ance In the closing action taken against the Standard Oil and the to bacco trusts. And any man who de fends those decisions or who, having those decisions In view, justifies the present position in connection with the trusts or thinks it satisfactory, is not warranted in receiving any fur ther attention from any man sincere ly desirous of solving the trust prob lem." , "The attorney general says that the Standard Oil case was decided on the same basis as the Northern Securities case, and in that instance you gave your approval," the colonel was re minded. "Nonsense." he responded, with heat. "We broke up the railroad combina tion In the Northern Securities case. There Is no parallel here and Mr Wickersham knows that perfectly." "Moreover, In my messages to con gress nnd in my speeches Immediate ly alter we got the decision in the Northern Securities case." continued the ex-president, "I pointed out that even In that case (though we actual ly accomplished a great deHl, whereas In the ntandard Oil and the tobacco trust cases, Mr. Wickersham accom plished considerably less than noth ing), the results showed that the anti trust law by Itself was wholly incap able of giving an adequate solution of the difficulty and that the problem of controlling the great corporations could only he met by strengthening the Interstate commerce laws and by providing for the same kind of ad ministrative control over the great In- dutsrlal concern engaged In Interstate 1 huslneis that the interstate commerce commission exercises aver the rail ways." The colonel had not Intended to make a formal statement, but he was now fairly launched and he proceeded with Increasing energy. "Far seeing men who really desire to accomplish results then saw that, this position was correct nnd it Is this position which has boen taken In the progressive national platform. The policy which received Its highest ex preaslnn in the final action taken with Mr. Wlckersham's approval In the to bacco and Standard OH trust case Is one of make believe strangling It Is preposterous from every standpoint. It benefits the big crooked business concerns. It keeps honest bualneos men pusxled and anxious and It shows the utter futility of attempting to settle a problem by a mere succes sion of lawsuits. "There, could probably be nn more absurd method devised, excepting the method recommended by the Stanley (OnUnuae pag I.)
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
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Aug. 21, 1912, edition 1
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