The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-18
STRIKES A sNAG.


President Wilson has had his heart
resoiutely set on the perfection of the
anti-unst legislation contained in a
program marked out by him In his
ADDRESS TO Congress. obedient TO his
order. the House has formulated a bill
representing the administration sug.
gesuons. Some features OF the bill
are good and some very bad In the
manner OF hectoring OF big business
and small business. The possibly good
features are not necessary. because the
onenses they give a particular name
10 are all comprehended within the
reach and scope Of that most effective
piece or legislation known as the sher.
man antitrust law. The adminisira-
lion measure Is simply adding a frnI
10 an already perfect garment. n
rpite OF the opposition element in his
own party. and the appeals OF fright.
ened Congressmen. President Wilson
10 relentless In demanding the adop-
ton OF his set program OF antitrust
legislation. once known as the ave
brothers" But II II more than likely
that organized labor and agricultural
influences will prove effective in block
Ing this contemplated legislation.
The intelligencer noted some days
ago the threat made by a group of
Democratic Congressman. that they
would not stand for the bill unless the
amendment asked for by union labor
and the farmers was agreed to. The
President. on Saturday. refused to ad.
init OF any changes OF that character.
and the fight is now on. AS the bill
has received the sanction OF the Dem
ocrauc caucus. we don't know lust
how these opposition members OF the
House are going to be relieved of sun
porting what is now declared to be a
party measure. The President seeks
10 fortify his stand In the matter by
referring TO the fact that the trade
union members OF the House were con.
suited before the drawing of the hill
and that they fully approved OF its
provisions at that time. Il seems TO
The lntelligencer that the labor advo-
Gates might get back rather forciblv
by suggesting to the President that
ne was at one time pledged TO and
approved OF the Baltimore platform.
but that since his election he has con.
spicuously reversed himself. II he can
repudiate any part Of the declared
principles Of the party. what is to hin
der the members of his party from re.
pudiating an approval that was given
through misunderstanding2
The demands OF the labor and tho
farmer interests are that they shall
he exempt from the operations OF the
sherman act. The law in its present
-. state provides that nothing con-
tained in the antitrust laws sbau ha
construed to forbid the existence and
operation OF fraternal. labor. consum.
ers, agricultural or horticultural mr..
Eanizatons or Associations instituted
Tor the purposes Of mutual help. and
not having capital stock or conducted
Tor proAt. or 10 forbid or restrain in
oiVidual members OF such orRaniza.
lions, orders or associations from, car.
ryins out the legitimate objects there.
OF The American Federation OF la.
DOR and the Farmers National Con.
gress have Joined in asking that this
section be amended by striking out the
words BE construed to forbid the OF.
istence and operation Of" and substi.
tuting therefor apply to-" Without
passing on the merits OF the conten.
lion we can see that the Democratic
party Is in a rather ticklish predica.