Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-01-08
IlIs
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY JOHN M. NELSON
Representative in Congress frpm the Third
Wisconsin District.

Wisconsin district.
THE PRESIDENTS RESPONSIBILITY.
The question uppermost in my mind
just now il, what will be the program
of President Wilson for the solution Of
the trust problemY Everything de-
ponds upon his courage, patriotism and
determination. Congress is Mt his com
mand, His party, feeding at his hands,
will do his bidding. In the words of
the sporting world, 1T is up to the
President"
At the opening of the session he told
ms that the subject of Importance
would be the trust question. His
promised special message on this sub
ject is expected after the holiday re-
| cess.
In the meantime the judiciary com
mittee met and decided to begin hear
ings at once; but then the ranking
Democrats were called into II confer
ence with the president. Since that
party consultation, we have merely
marked time. Only two persons have
been heard, one for only twenty min
utes. Evidently there has been II
change of program or in tactics.
The explanation may be found in
three words fear of panic In the
lobbiea we hear it, in the newspapers
we read it. Assurances have been Civ
on out by Vice President Marshall and
others that business interests need not
be alarmed. Congress- is in u panic, if
the country is not. The fact is that
the revision of the tariff did somewhat
disturb business and the currency bill
alarmed the banks. Now certain pow
ers are fearful of the effect of IA fight
with the trusts. There is much talk of
going slow, 1t is proposed to pass
few bills, such as making the penalties
of the Sherman law personal and abol-
ishing interlocking directorates, so as
to make u showing of reform, but not
seriously disturb Wall Street. These
gentlemen are not so much looking to
the ultimate welfare of the American
people as they are interested i'll main
tanning the present political equilib-
rum.
| have faith that the president will
not change his program for the sake of
political expediency. Though he may
deem it necessary to change tactics, |
have every hope that he will not COM
promise with the enemy.
The 500 or more trusts that now
dominate the industries of the country
hesitate to use to embarass the presi-
dent and congress. BY merely letting
out few hundred thousand workmen,
the trusts can bring about critical con-
ditions. 1t is true that in this situation
the easiest road is that of compromise,
to pass some half way measures. and
then try to make the people believe
that the country has been relieved from
the thraldom of the trusts, but let us
hope that this will not be the policy of
the president May Woodrow Wilson
face his duty with the spirit of Abra
ham Lincoln.
The situation is now critical. The
President is face to face with his Coli
ath. He put through his tariff bill
but neither the people nor the trusts
cared much about the tariff. He got
his currency bill passed; but it was
not an issue upon which the people
We're lined up on one side, and on the
other the special interests. 1t was not
even n party question. The real test of
the administration is coming upon the
trust issue. For self preservation and
l to maintain the monopoly privilege OF
. exacting tribute, the trusts will put NJ