Marble Hill press., 1914-01-15

ne had direct Information from the
president that while 4 comprehensive
plan for antitrust legislation might be
outlined this winter, 1t was not the in.
tention Of the administration to rec.
ommend drastic legislation or to push
the entire program Of moderate anti
trust Legislation to completion at
this session.
The sequence OF events points to 4
period OF rest for the business world.
Great corporation after great corpnIss
tion has been telling the United State~
government that It will obey the law
and therefore it Is probable that some
or the prosecutions which have been
instituted will not be pushed. and II
the corporations continue to do the
right thing as the department of jus
tice views 1t. the prosecutions will be
few and far between.
Seek to Reassure Business.
Some time ago 1t became known
from some OF the presidents close ad-
visers that Mr.. Wilson desired that
business should be treasured. 1t also
became known that Democratic lead.
ers In congress were urging that no
drastic legislation affecting business
should be passed at this session. Men
In position to know seemed to be GER
tain that the president would say some
definite reassuring words at a later
time. When the currency bill was
signed Mr.. Wilson spoke OF business
and Of It's better relations with the
government and he made his fne
phrase calling the condition "A Con
stitution OF Peace"
II was within forty eight hours aft
er this address OF the president and
immediately following his signing OF
the currency bill that Thomas r. Mar.
shall. vice-president of the United
states. said in indianapolis that II
could be taken for granted that no
drastic antitrust legislation would be
enacted by congress this winter.
All things point TO desire crl the
part OF the Democratic majority in
congress 10 avoid any legislation
which. even II seemingly commend
able. shall upset business conditions.
II seems the Democrats think that
such legislation as they desire to en-.
act can be spread over longer period
and that gradually and easily the In.
dustries OF all kinds can adjust them
selves 10 the new plan OF action. From
this springs the desire TO do nothing
harsh hastily"
II must not be understood that the
Democrats think that such legislation
as is demanded by the baltimore plat,
form will be harsh They do say how.
ever. that they think that, coming in
a bunch, IL might upset conditions
and perhaps work to the temporary in.
gram OF make haste slowly.
Saving American Birds.
Congress, as is probably pretty
well known by this time, passed
a bill al the last session prohib-
sting the importation OF the plum
age OF wild pirds into this country.
The reasons for this legislation are
not perfectly clear. apparently. 10 the
people Of the United States. II was
not passed solely because OF desire
TO save the wild bird life Of other
countries. although such thought Ell
tered into the legislation. The real
reason was that much OF the plumage
OF the birds OF other countries cannot
be distinguished from the plumage OF
birds Of this country. and II Was found
frequently before the Law vas passed
that birds protected In this country
were killed for their plumage, which
was then passed OF as the plumage OF
foreign birds.
The bird protectors. who are trying
10 do what they can 10 serve the az
rlcultural interests OF the country by
saving the insectiyerous birds, found
that the lure OF the market was too
strong for many American gunners,
aud that they would kill all kinds Of
birds. trusting 10 luck TO pass their
plumage OF as that OF the birds u
Europe. Asia or Africa
II took about IS years 20 get the
necessary protective legislation on the
statute books II was first introduced
by George Shiras. Jr.. n Republican,
and man who has studied Wild life
from boyhood and who has the love
,f nature at heart. Mr.. Shtras was 4
OF congress good many
vars ago, lie never could set con.
,ideratiou for his bill. Finally. how
sver. public sentiment WAS aroused
md the efforts OF the Audubon society
net with such success that Demo
ratio congress passed bill which
iaS been introduced years before by
/ Republican.
Many National Bird Reserves.
In addition TO his non.importatlon
avs, Uncle Sam Is doing great deal
o protect the birds OF this country
There are now national bird reserves
n many parts OF the United States,
eserves set aside SO that during the
,reeding season at least the song
tiers, the insect eaters. the seed eat
re- and the game birds can rear their
Dung in peace. free from the terrors
4 the nest robber and the plume
Iunter.