The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-01-20
,ABOIJT 70 b WRITTEN
SAYS The PRESIDENT
Mooted Message on Anti Trust
Legislation is Read by Him
to the Congress.
MONOPOLY IS DENOUNCED
Wants to SQUARE Business
Methods with Both Public
Opinion and Law.
~ 1890 naEss

WASHINGTON, ID. e., Jan. 20
President Wilson personally laid be
fore a joint session OF congress to-
day the fundamental principles Of
the democratic administrations pro-
gram dealing with trusts and big
business" The president presented
the case, he said, ''as it lies in the
thought OF the country, re3terat1ng
that private monopoly is indefeIsl-
bile and frtolerable,'' and declaring
that conscientious business men
throughout the nation would not 'pe
satisfied until practices now depre-
Gated by public opinion as restraints
OF trade and commerce were cor
rected.
I'VE are now about to write the
additional articles OF our constiLu-.
ton Of peace said the president,
1.-THE peace that is honor and freedom
and prosperity"
Besides suggesting the scope OF
legislation, the president made per
sonaI appeal for an atmosphere OF
friendliness and cooperation in Con
gress while handling the problem.
The antagonism, he said, be-
tween business and government IS
over. we are now about to give eX-
preston to the best Judgment OF
America, to what we know to be the
business conscience and honor OF the
land The government and business
men are ready to meet each other
half way in a common effort to square
business methods with both public
opinion and the law"
Presidents Chief Points.
The chief points W hich the presd-
dent singled out as a basis for leg
islation were:
i. Efeetual prohibition of the In
terlocktng of directorates of great
corpora railroads., IN
dustrial. commercial and public ser
vice bodies.
g. A law to confer upon, the In
terstate Commerce Commission the
power to superintend and regulate
the financial operations lby when
railroads are henceforth to be sup
piled with the money they need for
their proper development and I'M
proved transportation facilities The
president made 1t clear that the
prosperity of the railroads and the
prosperity OF the country are insep-
arabIy connected" in this regard.
49, definition of the many hurt
full restraints of trade" by explicit
legislation supplementary. to the
Sherman law.
4. The creation of a commission TO
aid the courts and to act as clear
ing house of information In helping
business to conform With the law.
5. Provision of penalties and pun
ishments to fall upon individuals re-
sponsible for unlawful business prac-
tices.
nanies and suggestion that the voting
power OF individuals holding shares
an numerous corporations might pc
restricted
the right to found suits for redress
on facts and jud gments proven in
government suits and proY.d1ng that
statute of limitations should run
only from the date OF conclusion OF
the governments action.
,Trusts Are Preparing.
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
'sIn my report ON the state of the
union Which II had the privilege or
reading to you on the second of Dece1'1-
Der last i ventured to reserve for dis
Cussfon at a later date the subject
of additional legislation regarding
The very difficult and intricate mat
ter of trusts and monopolies. the
time now seems opportune to turn
to that great question not only pc
cause the currency question wh1ch
absorbed your attention and the az
tention of the country In December
Is now disposed of, hut because also
with singular-rapidity in this other
great field OF action. In the matter
-of currency 1t cleared suddenly and
very happily after the much debated
act was passed; in respect of the mo-
nopol:es which have multiplied about
us and in regard to the various
means by which they have been or
ganized and maintained it seems to
be coming to clear and all but uni
vergal agreement in antics patton OF
our action, as it by way of prepara-
ton. making the way easier to see
and easier TO set out upon with con-
ffdence and without CONFUSION OIL
counsel.
tI.eg.slation has It's atmosphere
Ike everything else and the atmos-
Dhere OF accommodation and mutual
understanding which we now breathe
with 50 much refreshment is g mat
Ter Of sincere congratulation. II
ought to make our task very muen
less difacult and embarrassing than
It would have been had we been
obliged TO contfue to act amidst the
sphere Of suspicion and antagon1sna
which has 50 long made u fmpossa nie
Is approaca such questions with us
tomato fairn ess.