The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-12
GOVERNOR WILSON IN CHICAGO.

Governor Wilson'S remarkable speech in Oh
cago last evening needs to be construed in the ligt
of things that have gone before and also with cor
sideration for other things, besides the making Q
that speech, that he did while in Chicago.
He kept religiousIy, sedulously aloof from til
representatives of political factions who we're de
ermined to reach him and enlist his support or tn
appearance of his support in the Senatorial cor
test now dividing the Illinois Democrats. He re
fused himself to all politicians, whether of tn
Roger Sullivan tine Harrison-Hearst faction. The
he went down to the Commercial Club and made tn
sharpest most direct and pointed statement Of hi
views about the attitude of the incoming Admin
istration toward business that ne has ever made
Two pregnant observations stand out from tbs
speech. One was q confession that the next Pres
dent is convinced that the money trust hunt ha
found the Money trust The banking system, declare
Governor Wilson, has already been indicted Bu
beyond that ne was concerned about the testimon
that an inner circle" of powerful factors is in tn
control of credit by which credit is obtainable t
the exclusion of those against whom that inner Gil
Gle seeks to discriminate"
The governor then, is convinced that there
money trust, or perhaps, more accurately, "cred
trust" He sounds in the presence Of a gatherin
Of the most powerful business men Of the middl
West the warning that he has been convinced o.
this point And what does he indicate shall be don
about it?
I'VE must see to it that the business of tn
United States is set absolutely free of every featur
of monopoly" That is one proposition. 1t sound
like fiat declaration for the rigorous, literal en-
forcement of the Sherman law. But apparently h
does not intend to make mere bigness an evidenc
of badness or of monopoly, for at another point h
said that he docs not care how big business grow
provided it grows big in contact with keen com
petition"
= Governor Wilson leaves the impression tinat h
is for competition, even when competition is tn
expensive way Of doing business One gathers tha
he would be willing to have the Hartman system
disintegated, even though, as Wall Street alread
anticipates the disintegration might make the stock
of all the different roads in the combination 60 III
in price; that he would rather have the Standar
Oil Company dissolved, even though higher price
for petroleum products resulted.
Probably the governor feels that in the long rui
it is not necessary that higher prices should follow
the proper dissolution of combinations that have be
come monopolistic. He indicates this very plainE
when he says that the raw materials of the country
the natural resources, must be made accessible Il
all the people on equal terms. That means, if any
thing specific is meant by il, that combinations which
control natural resources to the extent of givinI
them monopolistic character, must be deprived o
that control This can be construed only one way
that natural resources thus controlled must b,
wrested from that control and placed under sue.
Government supervision as will insure access II
them as the right of anybody who desires to us,
them, on the same terms that are granted to any
body else In the case of anthracite, for instance
the most closely held natural resource of the coun
try, that would seem possible only by dissolution
of the existing combination, and some process o
condemnation of the coal deposits that would brin,
them directly under control which would max,
them accessible to the general public on uniform
terms.
Small wonder that the incoming President con
fessed that "if permitted my thoughts to dwell
upon the responsibilities that will fall upon me,
would be daunted" He appealed to business met
for counsel and assistance, not opposition an;
antagonism in restoring feeling to the nation tina
it is possible for justice to be established amon
all the people.
As Governor Wilson approaches the time TO
him to assume mis- great responsibility, he is speak
has in mind to do. His Chicago address was
warning to business, and his Chicago conduct, il
keeping away from the politicians, was service o
notice that politics is not going to be the first bust
ness of his administration.
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