The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-01-16


president pres that while comprehensive
pian ior antitrust legislation might no
outlined this winter, it was not the IN.
eenlioh OF the administration to rec.
oihinend drastic legislation or to push
lile entire program of moderate ami.
trust Legislation to a comnletion !,
this session.
Inc sequence of events points 10 4
period OF rest for the business world.
ufeat corporation after great CORPORA
ZION nas been telling the Z Lifted States
soserhInent that it will obey the law
dnd therefore 1t is probable that some
4 tne prosecutions which have been
instituted will not be pushed, and if
tne corporations continue to do the
lisnt thlng as the department of JUS
llce views It, the prosecutions will be
lew and far between.
Seek to Reassure Business.
some time ago 1t became known
from some of the presidents close ad-
vlsers that Mr.. Wilson desired that
business should be treasured. 1t also
became known that Democratic lead
ers IN congress we're urging that no
drastic legislation affecting business
should be passed at this session. Men
N position to know seemed TO be GER
tam that the president would say some
oennlte reassuring words at a later
tlme When the currency bill was
signed Mr. Wilson spoke of business
ana OF its better relations with the
government and he made his fine
phrase calling the condition "A Con-
stitution of Peace"
1t 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
snail, yice-president of the United
States, said in Indianapolis that it
could be taken for granted that no
drastic antitrust legislation would, be
enacted by congress this winter.
All things point to desire on the
part CT the Democratic majority in
congress to avoid any legislation
which, even If seemingly commend
able, shall upset business conditions.
1t 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 to the new plan of action. From
this springs the desire to do nothing
harsh hastily"
1t 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
bunch" it might upset conditions
! and perhaps work to the temporary in
jury of the country. It is to be pro
gram of make haste slowly.
Saving American Birds.
4 Congress, as is probably pretty
well known by this time, passed
bill at the last session prohib
iting the Importation Of the plum
age OF wild pirus into tpis country
The reasons for this legislation are
not perfectly clear, apparently, to the
people of the United States. It was
not passed solely because OF desire
to save the wild bird life OF oth'l
countries, although such thought en-
tered into the legislation. The rea
reason was that much of the plumagt
of the birds of other countries canno
be distinguished from the plumage Q
birds of this country, and 1t was foune
frequently before the law was passed
that birds protected in this countr!
were killed for their plumage, whlci
was then passed off as the plumage Q
foreign birds
The bird protectors, who are tryln:
to do what they can to serve the az
ricultural interests of the country 0.
saving the insectiverous birds, foun'
that the lure of the market was to-
J strong for many American gunners
, and that they would k> all kinds 0
birds, trusting to luck to pass thel
nlumage off as that of the birds 0
Europe, Asia or Africa.
1t took about Is years to get tn
5 necessary protective legislation on tn
: statute books. 1t was first INTRODUCES
) by George Shiras, Jr., a Republican
and man who has studied wild III
: from boyhood and who has the loV
: of nature at heart. Mr.. Shlras was
member of congress a good man
wears ago. He never could get cor
sideration for his bill. Finally, nov
: ever public sentiment was arouse
and the efforts of the Audubon societ
t met with such success that Demo
! cratic congress passed bill whlc
! had been introduced years before Q
] Republican.
I Many National Bird Reserves.
4 In addition to his non-importatio
laws. Uncle Sam is doing great oes
!, to protect the birds of this countr!
] There are now national bird reserve
. in many parts of the United States
. reserves set aside SO that during tn
/ breeding season at least the soh'
! sters the insect eaters, the seed ca
4 ers and the game birds can rear thel
! young in peace, free from the terror
:. Of the nest robber and the plum