The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-02-05
PEACE TERMS FIRM
GOVERNMENT is NOT ENTERING
INTO COMPROMISE WITH OF.
TENDING TRUSTS.
so ASSERTS Mr.. M'REYNOLDS
Attorney General Wants II Understood
That In Dealing With Corporations
His Department Is Not Yield
Ing Any Just Claims.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

S@SNANE N1llN Wv
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. legislation
Is the great absorbing topic at pres
ent In the capital and from letters
which come in from the country II
seems to be holding the attention OF
business and professional men every.
Ghere. 1t Ia being discussed in news
paper correspondence daily, and in
this correspondence also 1t has been
holding place, because of the manifest
Interest and In some cases the appre-
henslon which has been shown con
corning It.
Close advisers to the president have
expressed a pleased assent to the use
OF the word peace which has appeared
so prominently recently in the head
lines of Mr.. Wilson's antitrust plans.
The Democrats. however, seem to be
fearful lest the people may be led to
believe that peace means compromise.
Compromise is a word Objectionable
to Attorney General McReynolds. who
has said that when a compromise is
entered into each party to II gives up
something for which II has contended
as It's right. 1t is becoming a little evil
dent In Washington that some of the
Democratic leaders fear the change
from a virulent policy against big
business to n less aggressive will
lead men to suppose that the party has
weakened in it's purpose to make the
big corporations behave themselves.
The Democrats explain that Mr.. VII.
sons peaceful words OF the last few
weeks, and their acquiescence in what
the administration has said, should
not be taken to mean that big corpo-
rations are to be allowed in any re-
spect to continue to break the law.
Mo- Compromise With Wrong.
Mr.. McReynolds apparently wants
It definitely understood that the gov
eminent does not intend to surrender
a thing for which II has contended. He
glad apparently that there is an OPP
p%ortunity to settle out of court many
Of the cases against the trusts, but
he is determined, II is said, that no
M shall think his department or the
administration is yielding one thing
which II does not believe II is right
to yield. 1t is held by the department
OF Justice officials that In all OF the
agreements with big corporations thus
far reached the department has OBJ
tanned all things which II has demand
ed. The attorney general has let It
be known that It is his intention to
be guided by no other policy in any
case. Briefly, corporations to escape
prosecution must come to Washing
ton to agree to proposed terms"
In the case OF the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company q direct
question was put to the attorney gen.
eral: ION what terms can we square
ourselves?" Mr.. McReynolds took a
long time thinking on this case and
then he told the officials exactly what
they would have to do to make their
operations comply with the law
against the trusts. II is said that the
company officials sought a compro-
mise, being unwilling to give over
certain profitable things which they
thought under certain constructions
might be considered to be within the
law. Finally the terms fixed by the
attorney general were accepted I'm
every detail and the telephone and
telegraph people were not particularly
sour-faced ove the surrender situa.
ton.
What happened In the telephone and
telegraph case has happened in the
New Haven railroad case. It is pos.
sible of ourse that In some of the
details Of the arrangement between
the government and the corporations
may be found things which have
appearance of compromise from
government end, but the depart
of justice seemingly is willing
10 challenge anyone to produce ade.
quate proof that there has been any
where giving was not right
Adopting Progressive Idea.
Some days before President VII
completed his message on
antitrust legislation It became known
md was published throughout the
that he intended to
recommend the creation Of an in.
.erstate business board to look after
big commercial affairs in some
what the same manner as the inter.
commerce commission looks
lfter the affairs of the railroads, but
With powers more limited than those
to the railroad supervising body.
In these dispatches some time ago
he exclusive information was given
hat President Wilson intended to Dor.
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