The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-14
President Outlines
His Trust Program
GENERAL IDEA Is CONCILIA-
TION RATHER THAN
ANTAGONISM.
Big Feature Is Creation of Inter
state Trade Commission-Win
Fix Personal Guilt

WASHINGTON. Jan. 13.-President
Wilson today gave tho members OF
the cabinet his ideas on the govern.
uonts relation to big business. the
Held that antitrust legislation should
cover I'm the present session OF CON
gress. and the spirit with which he be-
heved the task should be approached.
Peace and not war. a feeling OF
friendly Cancellation rather than OF
hostile antaronism. and yet a con
structivo program that will eliminate
uncertainty about tho law and stim-
t.ate the growth OF legitimate bust
rrs5-thcsc are the fundamentals or
ih" presidents plan OF action. to be
embodied In the message which he
VIII read az a Joint session of con
tr'ss next week He presented the
document 20 the cabinet today and
worked AT afternoon on sCme minor
chances as q result of the meeting.
Members OF the cabinet spoke OF the
~ SAGE as progressive declaration
tI"f would reassure the business
world Df the sincere intentions OF the
administration TO deal fairly with it
Tomorrow the President will out
l.nn che message To the Democratic
members Of the Senate committee on
Interstate commerce and the House
Judiciary committee AT White House
conferences. While the President
has no' vet revealed his views on de
tailed legislation. he hopes that his
message viii bc the guiding influence
that VIII keen The scoDe of activity
within a we'll De fined compass, elm
mating so far as possible any con-
iestion of radical bills that might be
Uisintcrrreted by the outside world.
So far as is known the cardinal fea-
lures or the Presidents plan are
Cardinal Features Of Plan.
Supp'eWenting the sherman anti
trust law 20 reduce tho debatable
area around IT,
The prohibition OF interlocking di-
rectorates
Location OF individual responsible
ity and the fixing of personal guilt
for an violations
The creation Of an interstate trade
commission 10 perform tho functions
not only OF a bureau of in 1rmation,
blr n determine by its Investigations
whether decrees of dissolution or
mandates of the court are carried out.
me president is proceeding on the
theory that legislation Is necessary
at this time and that there should be
no delay in accomplishing those re-
forms on which public sentiment IL
agreed. The recent action OF ]. T..
Morgan q Co. in voluntarily with
drawing from numerous directorates
on account OF "a change in public
sentiment is cited nv administra-
ton supporters as evidence that the
business world expects interlocking
directoratcs TO be dissolved. In this
connection Mr.. Wilson believes the
whole course of public opinion has
undergone a remarkable change I'm
the last few years. Fro point
whore doubt as TO the ok stence of
trusts was at first expressed. through
the period when reasonable and un-
reasonable combinations in restraint
Of trade were debated, he believes
there has developed now an accept
ance of the principle that private mo-
nOpolies are indefensible and that
practice certain things which ought
TO be prohibited.
To Go After Personal Guilt.
lie Is expected to recommend in
his message that the law with respect
10 personal guilt should be vigorous
j. enforced and provision made IN all
legislation for individual offenses.
one or the most important features
or the antitrust program Is the in
irraidte trade commission. This or
E1nZ1tion would be the medium
through which the government would
keep the business world informed and
eliminate the twilight zone" In big
industry. There have been repeated
requests for Information from bust
% IS concerns and the need OF an
authoritative reservoir OF information
already has been demonstrated in the
present administration experience
with the trust question II Is con
tcmpl1ted TO place the commissioner
of corporations an the head of the in
tcrstato trade commission. but TO in
CIude in its membership business
men who would know business
methods sufficiently to conduct the
necessary inquiries and furnish the
desired information.