Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-02
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Important Changes Made by New Po-
Iitical Party.

| itical Party.
| Nineteen thirteen wrought changes
in the American -politi-
cal. economic and financial-prob-
ably more far-reaching than any other
wear of the last quarter century. This
is apparent today in a backward
glance over memorable events of the
| past II months in all branches OF
| governmental activity.
A Democratic administration in ma
tional affairs came into power, DEM
| ocratic congress at the back Of DEM
| ocratic president for the first time
since Grover Cleveland occupied the
White House.
The first constitutional amendments
since 1870 were perfected, providing
two radical changes in the funda-
mentals of government-an income
tax and the election of United States
senator's.
The national bank and currency
system, which was devised to float
the debt of the civil war and has ope-
rated ever since was reorganized into
a Federal reserve system in which the
central bank plan, the dominant sys-
tenn of Europe, was rejected and
vast scheme of financial reorganiza-
tion perfected.
A Democratic tariff law became ef-
fective, the first since 1898 and one
Of the most comprehensive tariff
measures ever enacted.
A parcel post system was brought
into successful operation.
The interstate commerce commiS-
sion began physical valuation OF
railways project which will cost
millions and take years to complete,
but which is expected to ultimately
provide basis Of rate making. Mean
while the So great eastern railways
renewed application for a five per
cent general increase in freight rates
and the commission directed reduc-
tions in express rates which are ex-
pected to save the public approx
mately $30,000,000 a year.
Last steps in building the Panama
canal were taken with the probabi1-
ly that the greatest engineering feat
| Of the, age will be in, operation in the
/ next year. 60
Practical control of the Philippine
government was delivered to the ma
tives Of the islands by President Will
sons appointment of a native ma
jority on the Philippine commission.
What promised new era In re-
lations of the government with great
corporations in the enforcement OF
the Sherman antitrust law, was
brought about by the "bloodless' dis
solution of the American Telephone
& Telegraph Co.'S relations with the
Western Union. President Wilson'S s
open declaration that the administra-
ton desired to cooperate with big
business" in a peaceful administration
of the law, was received in business
and financial circles with evidences OF
optimism.
The supreme court laid down sew
eral decisions of deep-rooted impor-
tance. 1t decided that owners OF
copyrights and patents may not con-
| troll the price at which retail deal
ers resell their products to the con-
sumer. 1t sustained the validity Or
| the Sherman law as criminal meas
ure for the first time in the "tur-
pentine trust" case. In the cotton cor
ner case it laid down the principle
that a corner" in any commodity Is
violation of the antitrust laws. In
the state rate cases 1t decided that
states through their railroad commls-
sions have control over the rates or
| lines within their borders irrespec-
| tive of the interstate commerce COM
| mission. In foreign relations, affairs
of the year hardly were less
eventful. Secretary Bryan's plan
/ of international peace was accepted
| in principle by more than thirty ma
lions and treaties with the United
States actually were signed by the
| Nat and NinaraP
The most important pronounce
ments of the administrations foreign
policy were made by President Wilson
| when he withdrew the support of the
United States from the bankers In the
so-called six-power Chinese loan; in
his Latin-American statement In
which he proclaimed the intention OF
the United States to recognize on the
western hemisphere only those gov
ernments founded on law and order;
and in his noted Mobile speech In
which he pointed out the menace of
| foreign concessions to the peace and
security of Central and South Afri-
ca.
| Relations with Mexico, the Ameri-
can governments refusal to recognize
| Huerta and a spirited exchange of
notes on the subject were the diplo-
matte events Of the year; Great Brit
aims protest against the exemption OF
American shipping from tolls in the
Panama canal and Japan's protest
against the anti-alien land legislation
in California, were the two other prin-
cipal features. Both still are in the
course of diplomatic discussion.
Plans for the extension Of Ameri-
can trade abroad by the creation OF
commercial agents of the department
of commerce. were launched; impor-
tant steps in the governments par
ticipation in relations between capital
and labor, were the creation Of new
portfolio in the cabinet for a secre-
tary of labor, to which William B.
Wilson, Of Pennsylvania, promi-
nent labor leader, was appointed; and
the creation by congress Of a Federal
commission on industrial relations
which has begun study OF the entire
subject.
Features in the internal affairs OF
the nation were the announcement
Of a national policy for the develop.
ment of Alaska with the proposed
building of a government railroad; q
policy of conservation for the proper
ties of the Indian tribes; and pro-
posed Federal control of all deposits
of radium, lately become so valuable
in medicine.
Agriculturally, the year was one OF
unprecedented prosperity. While the
volume of crops was below the aver
age, their value totalled nearly II
: billion dollars.
Woodrow Wilson was born al
Staunton, Va, in 1856. Robert L
Owen, chairman Of the senate banking
and currency committee, was born al