Merger Order Rankles

MERGER ORDER RANKLES

Eastern financiers are said to be greatly angered at the president for ordering suit against the Northern Securities company without first consulting them. They say that had the suit been commenced ten days earlier, it would have brought on a financial panic and they say as it was the president had no idea whether it was the wrong moment or not. They hold that the president should have given them notice that he intended to commence this action. Because he did not and because he has dared to enforce the law, which he has sworn to do, without first giving these alleged lawbreakers time to cover, they now propose to defeat his renomination for president.

All this is in accordance with the usual methods of these giant lawbreakers. They proceed to violate the law and then plead that even if they have done a wrong thing they should not be called to account therefor lest business be disturbed. In other words their idea is that even though they are criminals, they should not be called to account for fear of the dire effect on stocks. But the president can afford to look calmly on the threats of these financial kings, belong assured that for every one of them whom he may antagonize by faithfully enforcing the laws he will win the support of several of the common people. The president has done wisely in doing his duty as he sees it without reference to the effect his action may have on his future political prospects. Thus far it can undoubtedly be said with truth that in practically everything the president has done which has brought down upon him the criticism of his party he has been right and the party wrong. For instance, he is right on Cuban matters, he is right on the question of placing the permanent census bureau under the civil service rules and he is right in the matter of bringing suit against the Northern Securities company.