The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-15
President Charges Sentiment
Against Trust Legislation
Il Being systematically Manu-
factured by the Interests.
Ne HAS LETTERS TO PROVE IT
One From the Simmons Har0-
ware Co. of st. Louis.
Holds Them Responsible 1Or
Psychological Depression.

WASHINGTON June 15.-fTesiuo"'
Wilson made the direct charge tooaS
that sentiment in favor OF postpone
mont of the administration trust leg
,.lative program was the result OF
campaign by certain interests anu IN
tfmated that it was the cause Oh Inc
spsvchological business depression
Of which he recently spoke.
In support Of the president view
comics of letters and kilograms CIR
culated among business men, calIre
o1,t completion Of the trust bills, pray
ing for the freight rate increase pelhs
.sLed nv the railroads OF the inter-
state commerce commission ana can-
ing for a halt Of the attacks on ousi-
ness were made public at the Whte
House.
his callers that the campaign, II sucn
n NAV be called, would have no Ell
feet upon him and that 1T was ms
plan to push the trust proerArii
through the senate with the aid OF I'll
the means at his command. he eA-
nressed the view that business was
as good. If not better now. than
while ago, and that it would be less
harmful to the business OF the coIE-
trv to have the trust legislation pro-
gram completed than to be CONFRONT
cd with a period of uncertainty WHICH
would accompany delay
The simmons Letter.
One of the circular letters, Whicn
came into possession OF the Wnlte
House was circulated by the Simmons
hardware company of st. Louis. F..
C. simmons, the head of the company.
had been selected for a member 81
the federal reserve board ana ms
nomination was to have gone to the
senate today. This morning IT, was
announced at the White House that
Mr. Simmons had declined the pace
and that Charles A. Hamlfn OF Bos-
ton. now an assistant secretary OF the
treasury, would be nominated In MS
white House officials emphatically
denied that the circular letter sent out
by the Simmons company nao any
connection with the declination OF Mr.
The letter was dated June 9. which
was after Mr.. Simmons had been OF
fered a place on the reserve poard.
This letter was not given out for pup
lication with the others.
Not since Mr.. Wilson made his
charge of an "insidious lobby" in
Washington to influence tariff legisla-
ton has there been a sensation OF such
a sort in official circles.
News of what the president had said
letters spread quickly to the capitol,
where it became the subject OF ami
mated discussion in both houses OF
congress.
Magazine Takes a Hand.
Another circular letter made public
purported 70 have been sent out by
the Pictorial Review company of New
York and was signed by w. P. Ahnell
as president. 1t was dated May 1, and
enclosed a draft of a letter (which
embraces the views OF a majority of
the thinking business people of our
section of the country and which
should be addressed to the president
of the United States, the congress and
members of the interstate commerce
commission respectively" The letter
concluded:
''If you prefer to use copies Of the
enclosed letter we will mail you as
many as you can conveniently use.
ut will be more effective, however.
IL YOU write them on your own letter
heads"
The form letter attached was an
appeal for postponement of trust leg
islation and per cent freight rate
increase for the railways. President
Wilson made it plain to callers today
that he did not believe congress would
adjourn before the trust bills were