The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-12-17
Democratic Opportunity


Democratic Opportunity
People say that the democratic party
whould be in power oftener than 1t Is and
stay in longer than 1t does If it were In
| touch with the varied interests of the
country or had the faculty of doing the
right thing at the right time said an
old voter who is known as one of the
strong upbuiders of this district.
/ II have always voted the democratic
ticket in state elections and have some
times voted for the democratic nominee
for President, but I have been pro-
tectionist and, therefore, not a very ard
ent democrat when it came to national
politics. But now as all parties are prac-
tically committed to tariff revision the
democrats, under Mr.. Underwood's lead
ership, will give us better measure than
the republican party would have given
us. If we are to have revision I would
rather see Mr.. Underwood handle the
matter.
But. as Mr. Harding pointed out, the
Sherman antitrust law should be re-
pealed. There has been too much trust
busting already; and what good has it
done? The Standard Oil comapny was
dissolved and the price of oil has been
advancing ever since the dissolution. It
is now almost twice as high as it was be-
fore the government began its suit. The
trusts ought to be regulated and there
should be a law similar to the Interstate
commerce law. giving the government the
right to curb them If they are doing
wrong Trust busting does no good. 1t
is now doing a great deal of harm. Mr..
Harding's interview should be read care
fully by every democrat and by every
business man. 1 was especially impressed
with these paragraphs:
There is a general acquiescence in
tariff revision and no fears are felt upon
that score, as great confidence is placed
in Mr.. Underwood and his associates on
the ways and means committee; and it is
not believed that any tariff bill proposed
by them will injure the prosperity of the
country. The greatest solictude just now
is felt as to the trust policy of the Will
son administration. There are perhaps
over 5000 corporations, railroads and in
uuSlfIdiS, lidl are SuDJtCl " dltdCh ulluti
the Sherman law, and should the new adj
ministration continue the line of policy
adopted by President Taft and Attorney
General Wiekersham and bring a sepa-
rate suit against each of these corpora
lions, it can readily be seen that the
present period of unrest and uncertainty
will be prolonged indefinitely.
hau No had OF
during the past 60 years the political
power it will possess after the fourth of
March, and Alabama particularly, by
virtue of the important chairmanships
held by it's senator's and representatives
in Congress will be most potent in shap-
ing our national policies. Public senti-
ment, however, is not created but is
merely reflected at Washington, and the
business interests of Alabama and of the
south should make themselves heard at
once. Under the Hepburn act there is
little left to be desired in the way of
railroad regulation, as far as interstate
commerce is concerned, and there should
be reasonable and intelligent legislation
looking toward the regulation of large in
dustrial corporations, clearly defining
their rights and limitations, without SUBJ
jecting the country to the delay and sus-
pense incident to the trial of individual
SUITS
IF President-el Wilson will intimate
strongly enough that there would be no
further suits against trusts and that
Congress would be asked to repeal the
Sherman law and substitute regul5-
ton, 1t would go long ways toward re-
storing confidence in the business and in
dustrial world