The Washington herald., 1914-03-20
MAKING war ON BUSINESS.
New York TiAes wouId Fix Guiit
On Mes IN censrrss.

Editorial In New yort Times
1t Is not more antitrust laws, II L
not trade commission that the countrl
needs The diminished and nesIisibl
ohenses Of the corporations can wait Tn,
demand now is to know. who is guilty o.
holding up the business OF the country
That Is the greatest crime OF all. II Is q
restraint Of trade SO mcnstrous and hurt.
full that in comparison the ravagss Of tht
wickedest trusts seem petty II infiict,
upon the people of the country a daily
loss greater than all the gain accruing tc
them from all the dissolution DEGREES ever
entered
Can a comsnissIon of inquiry be named
composed Of men SO just. unselfish. and
competent that its finding would com.
mand respect and assent even though In
its report ten Senators and twenty Rep
resentatives were found guilty Of oh.
structing the country's trade by theiI
ceaseless and pestilent meddling?
What Is the matter with business?
Beyond question something Is the mat
ter. The year began In hope. The new
constitution OF peace had been pro-
claimed. There was a better tone In all
markets. Trade gained In volume, mer-
chants looked forward to a good spring
business. investors were ready to buy Sc
curities. The talk of men was cheerful.
The long period of depression was ended.
at last the forward movement had begun.
Two months have passed and some
body has shut OF the steam. Psrtic,I-
lars would be superfiuous, for everybody
knows that trade has slackened again.
OF course. the volume is great; ii must
be and always is enormous We are 3d.
100000. But the March volume is not
what January foretold and expected.
The West feels the check. the West that
a little while ago said that there was no
trade depression save in Wall street.
The South feels IT, The encouragement
Is countrywide. Where lies the guilt? !?
The running down of these restrainers Of
trade must surely be the most pressing
business the government can have on
hand.
II the guilt does not lie in Washington.
where does IL lie? The wisest and best
Informed observers say that conditions
are sound. sound everywhere save in
Washington. Ten men may assign a doz-
en- reasons for the check to business, but
they will all agree that there can be no
confident forward movement until We
know what Washington is going to do
The Democrats are in power at Washing
ton; they must accept the responsibility
for all the injury to business that Is in
ficted in that quarter. II these new anti
trust bills are really needed for the pro-
lection of the people against the dreadful
OF monopoly. then let bust
ness stand still in its tracks until safe
guards have been erected. But II the dis
turbing agitation 10 due merely to the
efforts OF a lot OF ignorant and reckless
to keep their heads above
the political waters. then let the country
know the truth.
The Republicans during their years Of
rule did many wicked things, no doubt
But they did not make war on business
Il was with Mr.. Roosevelt that the club
Ding of the country's Industries became
he favorite occupation Of politician
rule, that must be admitted. but honest
men did enjoy the privilege of carrying
In their business unmolested by the Fed
.ral prosecutor and free from the dread
Df hostile laws. That privilege honest
men do not now have. They are con-
inually harassed by the fear Of Con-
,ressiOnal meddling. and this Congress
ioes its meddIing with an unframed and
unsteady hand. These latest antitrust
avs were in their earlier forms marvels
Il ignorance and blundering. Both houses
Il Congress seem TO regard the country
IS a cadaver which they are at liberty
ing their education. The President. it
5 known, desires fair treatment for busi-
Tess His views have been publicly stat
d. and they have given great comfort
o the afflicted. They have not had either
n Congress or in some branches of the
establishments. the infiu-
nee to which they were entitled by their
Weight and wisdom.
II there is anybody to whom the coun-
nv can look fer relief from endless mis-
hief and meddling Il is to the President.
\ publicist of some note in his day who
yer had occasion to study somewhat
loosely the workings of the government
machine at Washington said that We
we're trying TO run a Roman Empire !
rith a brummagem vestry. That l. the |
ondition today, save that the empire \
as expanded and the vestry has shrunk. |
Guilt is and must be personal Let
he punishment fall upon the head that |
onceived and committed the crime. Pres /
dent Wilson insists that the new anti
rust laws shall fix upon individuals the |
for corporation sins. The
rinciple is right. the application inopp0r-
unc. The present need is to fix the re-
for the conditions that are
trade OF its gains and labor Of
s wage IL Washington is guilty. the
ountry should know il in time to pro-
ounce sentence in the Congressional
iections next fall. Wherever the blame
es. the principle of personal guilt should
. enforced. That rule can be made to