Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-02-04
PEACE TERMS FIRM
GOVERNMENT IS NOT ENTERING
INTO COMPROMISE WITH or.
Tending TRUSTS.
so ASSERTS Mr.. M'REYNOLDS
Attorney General Wants 1t uncerstood
That in Dealing With Corporations
His Department Is Not YiaId-
ing Any Just Claims.
e. GEORGE CLINTON

Washiugton.-Anti trust legislation
Is the great absorbing topic at pres
ent in the capital and from letters
which come in from the country it
seems to be holding the attention Of
business and professional men every
where. It is being discussed in news
paper correspondence daily, aud in
this correspondence also it has been
holding place, because of the manifest
interest and in some cases the appre-
hension which has been shown con
corning it,
Close advisers % the president have
expressed a plea sed assent to the use
of tie word peacc which has appeared
50 prominently recently in the head
lines of Mr.. Wilson's antitrust plans.
The Democrats, however, seem TO be
fearful lest the people may be led to
believe that peace means compromise.
Compromise IS a word Objectionable
to Attorney General McReynolds, who
has said that when q compromise is
entered into each nsrty to it gives up
something for which it has contended
dent in Washington that some OF the
Democratic leaders fear the change
from a virulent policy against big
business to one less aggressive will
lead men TO suppose that the party has
weakened in its purpose to make tie
big corporations behave themselves.
The Democrats, explain that ar VIII
sons peaceful words of the last few
weeks. and their acquiescenee in what
the administration has said. should
not be taken to mean that big corpo-
rations are to be allowed in any re-
spect to continue to break the law.
No Compromise With Wrong.
Mr. McReynolds apparently wants
It definitely understood that the gov
ernmept does not intend to surrender
a thing for which it has contepded. He
glad apparently that there is an op-
portunity to settle out of court many
OF the cases against the trusts, but
he is determined, it is said. that no
one shall think his department or the
administration is yielding one thing
which it does not believe it is right
10 yield. 1t is held by the department
Of justice officials that in all of the
agreements with big corporations thus
far reached the department has OBJ
tanned all things which it has demand
ed. The attorney general has let 1t
be known that it is his intention to
be guided by no other policy in any
case. Briefly. corporations to escape
prosecution must come to Washing
ton to agree to proposed terms"
In the case of the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company a direct
question was put to the attorney gen.
eral; ION what terms can we square
ourselves?" Mr. Metropolis tool
long time thinking on this case and
then he told the officials exactly what
they would have to do 10 make their
operations comply with the law
against the trusts. 1t is said that the
company officials sought a compro-
mise, being unwilling to give over
certain profitable things which they
thought under certain constructions
might be considered TO be within the
law. Finally the terms fixed by the
attorney general were accepted in
every detail and the telephone and
telegraph people were not particularly
sour-faced over the surrender situa.
ton.
What happened in the telephone and
telegraph case has happened in the
New Haven railroad case. 1t is pos
sible of course that in some of the
details of the arrangement between
the government and the corporations
there may be found things which have
the appearance of compromise from
the government end, but the depart
ment Of justice seemingly is willing
to challenge anyone to produce ade-
quate proof that there has been any
giving where giving was not right.
Adopting Progressive idea.
Some days before President VIII
son completed his message on
antitrust legislation it became known
and was published throughout the
country that he intended TO
recommend the creation of an in
terstate business board to look after
big commercial affairs in some
what the same manner as the inter
state commerce commission looks
after the affairs Of the railroads. but
with powers more limited than those
given to the railroad supervising body.
In these dispatches some time ago
the exclusive information was qiven
that President Wilson intended to Dor.
row part OF the plan of the new Pro
gressive party intended to regulate