The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-26
THE VICE PRESIDENTS CHRIST.
MAS SPIRIT.

Vice President Marshall started out
on his Christians vacation in q very
Christmasy frame of mind. He was
fairly bubbling over with peace oil
earth and good will to men. He hadn't
eve u harsh word to utter about the
trusts. Things have bcerr going very
much to his liking. The tariff bill
has been passed. likewise the cur
currency bill. And Mr. Marshall
thinks that this about settles it. There
is no need for trust legislation. for al
ready is 4 result Of the two measures
already passed. the. trusts are eating
out Of the hand of the attorney gen.
eral, and what more could anyone
want. Let the laws stand as they are.
The democratic party has covered it.
self with glory, has saved the coun-
try. it may now rest. from it's la.
bors that it's works may follow II.
We do not know whether the vice
president attributes the very amiable
attitude Of the telephone managers
to the tariff hill or the currency bill.
1t Is true that the tariff bill does not
say anything. II way or the other.
about a duty on electricity, but it is
possible that the telephone people,
recognizing that the tariff bill is in its
general Intent and spirit a low tariff
bill. expects competition with the
pauper electricity of some foreign
country if it Ices not make itself solid
with the administration. On the other
hand. it may fear that unless it takes
steps to prevent it the boards Of con.
troll under the. new currency bill will
demand free telephones for them
selves aud their. wives, and 1t is de-
sired to have q friend at headquarters
to prevent anything Of this sort. In
other respects neither the tariff bill
nor, the currency bill seems to have
much bearing on the telephone bust
AT other times, when the vice pres.
ident is not bubbling. oyer with pleas.
ant anticipatiohs Of the holidays, he
would realize that whatever condi.
lions exist today in the relations be-
tween the government and the trusts,
they are the product Of many years
Of growth and development. He
would admit that the legal status rests
upon q statute known as the Sherman
Law. a status, by the with which
the democratic Organization, as such,
had nothing to do. and that this Jaw,
not in. its form. but as it exists a a
vital force In. the. affairs Of the coun-
try. ii probably very far from what
its trainers expected it to be, but that
It has been trimmed and buttressed
n fortified and rationalized by pub
lie discussions. and court decisions,
and thoughtful consideration, all Of
which have brought 1t into its present
relation with the business Of the
country.
There is cause for qualification in
the fact that one great concern has
voluntarily undertaken an adjustment
Of its affairs which will bring them
into accord with. the spirit: Of the
Sherman law as 1t is understood to-
day. and in the reported willingness
OF other large concerns to do like.
wise. In whatever measure members
Of the present administration have
contributed to this result. they have
eafned the commentator Of the coun.
try. But, it is not clear that the
work is finished. nor. that further
legislation Of an important character
is not needed And 1T is still less clear
that the two bills passed. the tariff
bill ana the currency bill. will be any
material aid in solving the trust prob.
lens Of the country.