Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-02-26
ANTI BILL
HOW THE SKIES WERE CLEARED
FOR THE LlTTLEFiELD BILL.
Attorney General Knox Regarded the Original
Measure as "Too Drastic, and Goes to
Pittsburs. Dimes With Trust Mssnates in
That City, and Bill is Modified.

That City. and Bill is Modified.
The Littlefield antitrust bill passed the
house by an unanimous vote on February
6. The democla ats were not permitted to
amend the measure. They voted for it,
not that it exactly suited them, but be-
cause they regarded it as step in the
right direction.
Mr.. DeArmond, the well.known demo.
crat from Missouri, speaking upon the
bill pointed out that the bill under con-
sideration was quite a different measure
from that originally introduced by Mr..
Littlefield. Referring to Mr.. L!ttefield's
original measure, Mr.. DeArmond said
"When the gentleman from Maine started
: cut he had blood in his eye and toma-
hawk in his hand, but by the time he
and his colleagues caught up with the
trusts they were smoking the pipe OF
peace, the sky was clear. and the pick
ings continue food for the trusts"
1t will be interesting to follow the pro-
cess Of "sky clearing" referred to by Mr..
DeArmond; and, fortunately, there is an
upbroken chain OF incidents, testimony
in support of which is provided by re-
publican authorities.
The St. Louis Globe.Democrat, a re-
publican paper, in its issue OF January
16, printed dispatch under date OF
Washington, January Is. as follows: Ns2
1.-THE plans OF Congressman Littlefield
and his associates on the judiciary COM
mittee to report his trust bill to the house
tomorrow from the full committee have
been abandoned. This was direct re-
suit OF conference which was held this
afternoon at the home OF Mr.. Knox. The
publicity provision is entirely too drastic.
He took the bill to Pittsburg with him
tonight and will submit substitute for
the publicity provision which he believes
can be passed by congress.
The newspapers receiving the Associat-
ed press dispatches printed in their issues
OF January II dispatch under date Of
Pittsburg, Pa, January 16, as follows:
can informal dinner was rendered to-
night by H. G. Prick to Attorney General
PC. Knox at his palatial home Clay
tom None but representative business
men of the city we're present. No
speeches were made and the function was
purely a social affair. Tomorrow Mrs.
Knox will be given reception by Mrs.
Frick."
The newspapers receiving the Associat.
ed press dispatches printed in their issues
of January 10 a dispatch under date OF
Washington, d. c., January 1S, as
follows:
"There were several officials prominent
in legislative and executive circles at the
White house in conference with the presi-
dent tonight. Among them was Attorney
General Knox who remained with Mr..
Roosevelt some time. 1t is supposed the
trust question was considered"
Let the thoughtful citizen read and re-
read these kilograms. The republican at
torney general for the United States
concluded that the Littlefeld bill as
originally introduced was entirely "too
drastic"
Under date OF January Is it was an.
nounced that che took the bill TO Pitts
burg with him tonight and will submit a
substitute for the publicity provision
which he believes can be passed by con-
gress."
Under date Of January 16 it was an
nounced that Mr.. Knox was rendered an
informal dinner by H. G. Prick, the
great steel trust magnate. at Mr. Prick S
palatial home "Clayton."
Under date Of January IS it was an
nounced that Mr.. Knox and other Off
Gals we're in conference with the presi.
dent and that ''it is supposed the tiust
question was considered"
In the light Of these dispatches, it is
not difficult to understand how the "sky''
happened to "clear."
In dispatch to the Chicago Record.
Herald, under date OF Washington, Feb.
ruary II, William E. Curtis said tina,
Mr.. Little6eld was surprised to learn
that he could not expect any encourage
ment from Mr.. Roosevelt in the effort te
push the Littlefeld antitrust bill through
the senate. Doubtless Mr.. Littlefield
remembered that Attorney General Knox
had taken the bill to Pittsburg and thai
~ result Of that visit the provisions O
the bill which Mr.. Knox regarded - en-
tirely too drastic" were trimmed down
to suit the wishss Of the trust nagnates
and It 10 not surprising that no should bt
bitdisturbed on learning that in spite
otthese radical changes in his bill hi
could not depend upon the administers
tons support for bis measure.
Is it possible that in the light Of such