Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/143

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 107 the incident ; nor does the fact that we had strength upon our side while there was weakness on the other, of itself constitute wrong on our part, as some of the adverse critics have eccentrically elected to assume. The steps taken by Mr. Roosevelt during his first administration may be counted, for signifi cance, as two: the suit he caused to be brought against that combination of railroad interests known as the Northern Securities, and the com mission which he occasioned to be appointed to hear and judge the merits of the coal strike in Pennsylvania. As has already been remarked, these proceedings are more likely to be identified, in the general mind of the future, with Mr. Roose velt s name, than any of the above mentioned "ac complishments" of his first administration, not ex cepting the incalculably important Panama inci dent. Both steps were, at bottom, outcomes of the same vigilance ; Mr. Roosevelt is more avowedly and keenly alive than any other patriot in public life to the sinister menace to the stability of our government which lies in combinations, whether they be combinations of "labor" or of "capital." It is too soon to say what good or what harm these steps have done; but to any American mind (save the mind of an American corporation) it is becom ing clear as day that if the corporations pursue and complete their growing control of legislatures, our