Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-05-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c., May 25. 19l
BIZ CLYDE Fl. TAvKsNKR.

w Os N.s may <Js AOAAs
By CLYDE Fl. TAvEENER.
Although standpat Republicans
proclaim that practically every farm
or in the land is against reciprocity,
the fact is that the recent wonder
full growth Of public sentiment In
favor Of reciprocity started with
farmers organizations and the agri-
cultural press Of the nation.
Congressman Ralph W. Moss Of
Indiana, q farmer himself, and one
OF the best friends Of the agricul-
turists occupying q seat In the halls
Of Congress, established this fact
beyond successful contradiction In
a strong speech delivered on the
floor OF the House. Mr.. Moss cinch-
ed his point by presenting the ac-
tual resolutions in which the great
organizations OF farmers pledged
themselves 70 work for reciprocity.
THE great national movement
among the farmers OF the United
States TO advance reciprocal legisla
tion began" said Mr.. Moss. with
a meeting held in the Grand Pacific
hotel in Chicago in 1905. There
were present at the meeting dele
gates representing the National Live
Stock association, American Short
Horn association, National Live
Stock Exchange, Millers' National
Federation, and other great produc-
ing and exporting interests
IL was decided TO hold o nation
al conference TO advance reciprocal
tariff legislation. Alvin Fl. 'Saun-
ders was chosen as the leader Of the
movement. Who is A. Fl. Saunders2
He is a member OF the tariff board
appointed by President Taft. Mr..
Saunders was at the that time the
editor OF the Breeders Gazette. the
most influential and widely read
farm journal in the United States.
Mr.. Saunders issued q signed state.
ment as to the purposes OF the con-
ference. He declared his willing
ness TO co operate with the specific
understanding that the interests Of
the farmers and stock growers
should be paramount.
1t is time, declared Mr.. Saun
ders in his signed statement, that
somebody should take up the cud-
gels against those who for selfish
purposes destroyed Blaine's reci-
procity conventions, and ara still
barring the American stockmen and
grain growers from large and lu-
crative outlet for their goods. The
ESrhk faw hAkNAn wlgnka -DaAk
known millions per year to the farm
ing communities. will not be won in
q week or a month. 1t means q
battle royal against intrenched pow.
or, but it will be won because II ID
right.
MIR. Moss went on to show that
the conference wss attended by
more than 600 delegates. represent
ing every principal agricultural or
ganization in the nation, and that at
the close OF the meeting the follow.
ing resolution was passed:
That We recommend that o per-
manent organization be formed un.
der the style OF the Reciprocal Tar
iif league. and that o committee oil
ID be appointed TO organize and fur
ther the work for which this con-
vention was assembled.
Mr.. Moss expressed the belief
that when reciprocity could be put
directly TO the real farmers OF the
country. it would develop that they
are for it, and that the alleged hos
tility OF the farmer exists princi-
pally in the minds Of the paper manu-.
facturers and lumber barons.
Two bills intended 10 deprive the
Supreme court OF the power 10 re-
Gently assumed TO read the word
reasonable" into the antitrust law.
indicate the strong protest In Con.
gress the decision OF the court weak.
eninR the ANTITRUST statute. The
bills were introduced by Senators
Culberson OF Texas and Reed OF Mis-
souri,. both Democrats.
Senator Culberson 3 bill consists
oil printed copy OF the Sherman aci
with three words inserted into Sec
tions l and 2, the words being "oI
whatever character" The effect
would be toprohibit all combi ati ons.
conspiracies in restraint OF traue.
all monopolies, all combinations tend.
ing toward monopoly ''of whatever
character. In the Texas senator =
opinion this change would efYectual-
ly restore the prohibitions OF ths
antitrust law to just where they
were before the recent decision was
handed down.
1t is contended by many members
OF Congress whose voting records
show them to be alert for the inter.
ests OF the people. that the ruling oil
the supreme court places in the anti.
trust law loophole for trusts and
combinations to get through on the
ground that they are not unreason-
able restrictive OF trade.
That the Sherman law will be re-.
stored to where it was before the
decision was announced, is highly
probable.