Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1913-02-11
Acts Based On Stanley's
Werk On steel Committee.
Kentucky Congressman Ex-
plains Three-Year Battle.
RESTORING CONFIDENCE


Members of Congress showed greater
interest I'm Governor Woodrow Wilson's
New Jersey antitrust program, as an
nounced In the morning newspapers to-
day. than In any previous act or utter
ance OF the President They feel
that he has thrown a great light upon
one phase OF his administration, and
take II for granted that he will advo-
cate before Congress the same anti
trust laws. particularly because the
substance Of these laws originated with
Representative A. o. Stanley. Senator
r. NJ. La Toilette and Louis d. Brandeis.
respectively.
Mr.. Stanley In a statement today
showed what portions of his bills Gov
ernor Wilson has apparently applied TO
the New Jersey situation, and expressed
his qualification thereat. This portion
of the New Jersey program is especially
gratifying to the Democrats Of the
House. as the authorization of the Stan
ley Steel Trust Investigation. from
which the bills grew, was one of the
first acts of the Democratic majority
that was elected In 1910.
In commenting on Governor Wilson's
antitrust .emedies. Mr.. Stanley saidi
Governor Wilson's unqualified in
dorsement of the antitrust legislation
contained In the seven bills introduced
in the New Jersey Senate affords me q
profound qualification cannot express.
For nearly three years have been de-
mane.ng TIE amendments of existing
laws, forbidding the very abuses which
this legislation is intended to correct
During the period Of Republican as
cendancy my bills and resolutions were
pigeonholed and was denounced by
the standpat press as a dangerous
visionary and a demagogue.
Democrats Organised Probe.
zone of the frst acts OF the Demo-
cratic Congress. however. was to pass
these resolutions and organize a COM
mittee, of which 1 was made chairman.
for the purpose of investigating the
abuses OF which I had complained
This committee on August 2, 1912, in
troduced legislation forbidding cor
porations engaged in interstate COM
merce from:
A-Underselling in local markets.
B-Fixing prices to the consumer.
C-Issuing watered stock.
D-Forming holding companies.
E-Entering into agreements for the
control of the price OF any commodity
F-Owning stock in other corpora
tions.
G-Agreeing to limit production
H-Attempting TO prevent competi-
tion in the transportation, manufacture
or sale of any article.
after sixteen months of laborious
investigation the committee which in
vestigated the affairs Of the Steel Cor
poration not only reported the status
of the concern, but proposed new legis-
lation in the form of bills which had
the honor to introduce in the House.
yesterday there was introduced in
the Senate OF New Jersev. with the ex-
press approval OF the next President of
the United States. bills prohibiting in
that State the very practices which the
legislation to which l have referred
will prohibit in the United States.
"At this time l have had no oppor-
tunity to investigate the text OF these
bills, but the purpose of the Federal
legislation recommended by the com
mittee or by myself and the State legis-
lation indorsed by Governor Wilson are
Identical, one being so drawn as TO pro-
hibit these practices within the State
and the other within the Federal Union.
In the preparation of these measures
the committee and it's chairman are in
debted for invaluable assistance fur
nished without charge by some of the
greatest jurists in the nation, the most
conspicuous among them being Louis
D. Brandeis. of Boston, and Robert r.
Reed, of New York.
Wilson Inspires Confidence.
Governor Wilosn's brave and cheer
ing declaration that these acts are de-
signed to put an end TO trusts and mo-
nopoly under the laws of New Jersey,
and / confidently predict they win ac-
complish that much-desired result. viii
inspire the courage and renew the hope
of every progressive Democrat in the
country.
"The law can be enforced as easil.-
against the mtghtiest as against the
meanest OF malefactors II those who are
intrusted with it's enactment and eXecu-
tiOn are not hampered by obligations 10
or deferred by the dread OF the pelt or
power Of the ViOiators OF the law.
"rhe trouble hitherto has been that
the men who are intrusted with the en-
fOrcement of the law dreaded the power
gnd the money Of the men who are, vio-
lating the law. The Congress and the
Senate are being literally winnowed OF
the legislative agents OF great corpora
tions and OF men who hope to obtain fat
by 80 demeaning themselves as not 20
incur the III viii OF great railroad sys-
TENS and manufacturing concerns.
Bryan struck the keynote when he
declared that the American people VIII
no longer tolerate public men who are
under any obligations, financial, ofncial
or professional, 20 the privileged viO-
lators OF the law and plundcrers OF the
people
with fearless and incorruptible men
20 write them laws, and with woodrow
Wilson 70 enact them, We are IN the
dawn OF a new and brighter Industrial
era"
IN a rivs' political camp from Mr..
Stanley but with "a purpose as patriotic
and oislntercated, senator Ia Toilette
has been hammerne away along the
same line. Both he and AIR. Stanley
were assisted in great measure by Mr.
BrandeiH. and. lf rumor should be VERT
FED ard Mr.. Brandeie become Attorney
General under wilson the kentuckian
and ne Mlsconsin man eQniq cneefinie
Of the Administrations