The Washington herald., 1914-03-24
The Predaeat and Trust LesisIat;ea.


currency acts were, was an adroit and
timely move worthy of more than pass
ing mention and attention. 1t made
genuine the invitation for comment and
aid from the business men of the coun-
try because it was notice to them that
their appearance in Washington did not
constitute political opposition to the
President and his administration. 1t
brought them to Washington by the
score, in the exercise of their better
rights and duties as citizens, and gave
the administration a great volume of
valuable information. This information
was the more accurate and useful and
effective because it was delivered in an
atmosphere free of the prejudicial in
flunces that would have been at play in
other circumstances. 1t was hidden to a
field meant to be free and fair.
This information, with the manifestly
close study that the President and his
advisers in and out of Congress are Civ
ing to the several vitality important ques-
tions that are involved, reflects itself in
the attitude and course of the President
and his lieutenants. The real danger in
the situation is already passed. 1t was
that Congress would attempt too much
and do little of it well. Study, inquiry
and observation, made on the eve of the
assumption of responsibility for legisla-
ton freighted with large consequence to
the people at large, and to the party,
have revealed to the strong man at the
helm and to the leaders in Congress that
there lies ahead of them a task that
calls for the most serious analytic and
constructive effort they can put forth.
Much that the President and the de-
pendable leaders of the party are doing
indicates that they are in full realization
of the delicacy and importance of their
legislative problem and the folly of un-
wise and unfair legislation.
The truth of this statement is exem-
plihed by the recently announced de-
cision of the President to abandon the
attempt to define by statute the so-called
doubtful features OF the Sherman act.
Study, counsel and conference convinced
the President that he and his party stood
in danger of trading certainty for un-
certainty and its resulting confusion and
destruction, and with sense and courage
that do him honor he decided to go no
farther on that line. He has not made
clear his entire position on the question
but he appears to be resolved to rely
upon the rule of reason dictum, with
intent" as the factor to be decided by
the courts, and to endeavor to make the
great law more effective by fixing and
personal responsibility for the
acts shown in court to be in contravcn-
tion of the law. In this wise deter
mination he will be applauded and sup
ported by all who strive for real solu-
ton of the ills that are to be remedied.
The President has shown that he is
going into the other features of the
pending legislation with the same
thoughtful care, and his sane stand
ought to insure beneficial legislation.
There are several evils of business
that the people and their government
are resolved to ban by laws that will
punish heavily those who willfully traf-
fc in those evils. EBut in striving to
reach the guilty it is essential to pro-
tect the innocent from unjust and un-
necessary punishment, and it is equally
essential that the business of the coun-
try should not be fettered.
Here in the rough is the problem that
our President and his party must en-
gage, and upon their wisdom and JUS
tice in dealing with it will depend the
judgment of them that the country will
record at the elections in 1914 and 1910.
That the President realizes all this is
made clear by the sensible course he is
following.
Nj