Show COMMERCIALISM IN CABINET CA To the Editor of The Herald The Th following dispatch appeared in tn the telegraphic tel columns of The Herald on en Nov 1 Durand Laverne Noyes and aou several other Chicagoans representing the National Business League Y j presented to the president a memorial urging him to recommend in his message j to congress the establishment ot a de department e of ot commerce and industries To many man the publication of the above win wilt appear of little importance On the theother theother theother other hand there are many who will at attach attach attach tach much importance to it Itin in fact will mil consider oo the question Involved trOll front a avery avery very grave point of view Samuel Gompers president of the Amer Arner American lean Ivan Federation of Labor discussing the plank of the Democratic national plat platform platform form providing for a H cabinet position m lit mth inthe th the interests of labor and Indorsing the theme same me said Mid From the foundation or of our govern government government ment up to the present day the representatives ll of business S and an commerce have had JukI absolute ab and exclusive re in the cabinet and In every department of ot our government If the foregoing was simply an expression aloe sion by Mr Gompers due to Ida his ob er observations rations in the wide field in which be he la Is labors labors bors hors it might be said with some decree d of truth that he lie was not Rot in a position to give an unbiased opinion though his hie welt well known integrity of ot principle will go So Solon a along long lon way wa in offsetting any an such premise However Mr lIr Gompers is not alone atone in inthis inthis this opinion as the extracts will show BOO Charles T Foot r r the Merchants association of or New York at a meeting of or vast financial Interests in Chicago a little over a year ago said The commercial element in this coun country try shall have its rightful due and that thatis is in nothing more nor le lees s than a preson aUng d influence in national and State ate legislation Constitutional a eminent nt United States Supreme Justice Harlan says saS has itai been Iwen practically overthrown in America b the preponderating influence of the commercial element in m legi legislation lalion and a athe the commercial element lement t has hs obtained or orI orIs IB Is I rapidly gaining control of f every na Da national situation threatening the integrity and the perpetuity of every existing gov OV government l It controls International dip diplomacy diplomacy makes and breaks treaties for fol its profit and Increasingly menaces the liberty ot of the world No man conversant with the t economical l conditions which today exist in this coun country country country try will endeavor to refute the assertions ot 01 Mr Ir Gompers or Justice HarUn Harl Neither will they clai cIal Mr II fleet was making an empty boast when he that the commercial element snail shall be the preponderating influence In this nation The commercial element is all alt that Mr Root claims claim for tor It It and all ail that the other gentlemen have claimed Therefore the move to make isake this power absolute is one of no small sign cance Will It be hit ac accomplished accomplished dl Undoubtedly The difficulties ties lies to be overcome in carrying out this thle scheme are so alight slight as compared with the cost of or the old plan Ilao that th t it will be fun Iun for tor the men behind the th dol del dollars lars Jars to accomplish their project Back of ot this thle cabinet move lies ties the principle which has lias brought about the trust The men who now practically dominate the Industrial interests of or this nation through the trusts seek IHk to make that domination one which neither the people nor other oUter nations can gainsay and end the way to do It they believe belleve Is Js through control of the government not as in the past p sl by devious and costly methods but by directly influencing the power of oC administration This is not only practicable but feasible tt The great great menace to tho the trust magnates lies In federal legislation Up to the present pres t tUMe time Unie they have been bean able to carry for forward forward forWard ward their schemes of aggrandizement with little or no DO opposition so far as the th federal government is concerned But the time has evidently arrived as eel evi evidenced in the move for Cor a cabinet port portfolio folio fo O when further progress pro of the trust is I Ii likely to be bt endangered and perhaps seriously crippled unless 8 precautions are taken In the quarter from whence the themo most mo t harmful legislation can come conae People are often heard beard to express them themselves themselves selves aeh as being satisfied that the trust truet scheme has R about reached its Ita limit and aM that continual efforts in that direction will lead to s and consequent COn disruption dl that the men behind the trusts treats are too shrewd to get beyond their depth and that having brought to perfection a business proposition which is 18 worth mil miJ millions millions lions to them and their heirs for many man years to come caine they ther will be content to leave well wen enough alone These ideas are fallacies The trust has bas not been brought to perfection for It Is ia not as yet the preponderating influence In national affairs To become so 80 is I its It purpose but b t that purpose cannot be become become come a fact until the government of this country becomes an adjunct of the trust while It Jt is true that the government has be o made to lend its countenance to the trust schemers it It is equally true that in inmost inmost most instances IR s subtlety has been the agent nt in bringing this about But each succeeding advance of the tr has his become more difficult as ns their objects were brought to view and the result is that at last U Jt hAS 1155 dedd d that the theu time thai in lit ripe for the tile carrying out eC C ti the end which was the Inspiration I 01 r t 1 he trust Idea the absorption n of oC a ge g mint and Its people b by the U of t r r 4 n T TF Uh UhF F JOSEPH HARDY |