Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-02-19
Give OPINIONS ON
WILSON MESSAGE
What Senators, Representatives
and Business Men Say.
NONE SERIOUSLY ALARMED.

General Favor Cooperation From
Program Inadequate.
Points that stand out in comments
on the latest message OF President
Wilson to congress on experimenting
and simplifying the antitrust law are:
Mrst.-Among senators the address
to congress was received with mixed
comment. though the general trend of
expression was favorable.
Second.-Substantial support of the
presidents antitrust program is indi.
Gated by members of congress outside
of his party.
Third.-The chief note Of dissent was
raised in the Progressive camp. Rep.
resentative Murdoch called the presi.
dents program ''i~nadequate."
The views OF some leading senator's,
representatives and business men are
herewith presented:
Representative Underwood. Demo-
cratic Leader of the House.-president
Wilson's message is. without doubt.
one OF the most statesmanlike papers
ever presented to congress-. 1t definite.
ly points the way to progressive legis.
lation.
sage
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts.-l
think it is a very able message If
congress draws this needed legisla-
ton in the spirit which President Will
| son processes to desire | cannot but
country.
Senator Myers OF Montana. Demo
crat.-The message will have a good
effect.
GaIlinser For Cooperation.
Senator Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire. Republican Leader.-The presi-
dents suggestions are moderate and
Statesmanlike. There is nothing in
them that need alarm any business
man or n business interest of the
United States.
Senator Shafroth of Colorado, Demo.
craft believe the coming laws will
be moderate and helpful.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, Repub-
ican.-l would also carry the presi-
dents recommendation one step fur.
ther and require the trust whose dis.
solution is ordered to turn into the
treasury of the United States all the
profits made while operating illegally.
Senator Kenyon of Iowa. Republican.
When President Wilson said that
guilt was personal he struck the right
note.
Representative James K. Mann, Re
publican Leader Of the House, am
very much pleased with that part of
the presidents message which relates
to the issuance of stock and bonds by
railroads.
Murdock's Dissent.
Representative Murdoch. Progressive
Leader Of the House.-The plan pro-
posed by the president for the solution
Of the trust evil is inadequate. Like all
inadequate plans. it will render the sit
uatiOn more acute. For twenty-five
years we have been attacking the form
Of vicious combinations. not their sub.
stance. We spent a quarter of u cen
fury haling the Standard Oil company
before the court of last resort. In the
end we changed nothing but the form
Of the trust. 1t will do no good to con-
tinue this attack upon the form OF
things. The president is well inten-
toned. but so long as there are reac.
tionary forces in his party be cannot
get results in this problem. The three
trust bills which | introduced for the
Progressive party have no compromise
with the renctionaries.
Representative Clayton, Chairman OF
the Judiciary Committee.-Congress is
fully in accord with the note struck
by President Wilson's message.
George w. Perkins of New York,
National Progressive Chairman.-Pres-
ident Wilson's message is very disap-
pointing to those who had followed
his campaign utterances closely. He
asserted that no constructive policy
had been outlined.
George }. Gould said that he was op-
6mlSdc on business.
President Wilson's presentation of
the question of limiting an individuals
voting power to. one corporation in
which he held stock was criticised in
New York's financial district.
Does this mean that if l nave five
pennies l can spend only one?" asked
e. G. Converse, one Of the largest
stockholders in Wall street, who has
just retired from the presidency of the
Bankers Trust company. MI. Con-
verse considers that this measur if
1t becomes law will limit investment.
Hartman & Co.-The message con-
ta1ns nothing that should alarm the
investor.
Henry Clews. New York Banker
The temperate and conciliatory tone
of the message is cOmmendable. There