The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-21
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

congress. shattered the hopes OF those
who thought that he would be satisfied
with the passage OF the tariff and cur
rencv bills and would not urge any
further radical legislation until the
business OF the country had Been able
to adjust itself. rs we'll as might be
to the new conditions Even the New
York World, which has been one of
the presidents most ardent supporters,
pleaded with him 10 let the trust ques-
tion alone for the present. II pointed
out that a host of new laws transform.
ng the entire commercial character of
the country must result in such a dis
turbed condition as to frighten capital
and greatly impair, if not puralyze,
business. The president, however, is
not one to be turned aside from his
hobbies, even by iudieious friends,
If the chief executive could claim
that he was merely following out the
Democratic programme he would have
more excuse for the sweeping changes
in business conditions which he advo-
Gates. but we find him taking issue on
the Sherman law with the majority,
az al least the most clamorous faction,
of his party. II is true that the presi.
dent does not adopt the radical plan
OF cutting out the ''rule of reason. -
but he favors supplemental legislation
10 define this rule. In our opinion, the
question might better be left to the
United States supreme court.
The president makes the shrswd plea
that he Is urging only such. remedies as
the country has agreed upon. While
1t is true that perhaps a majority of
the people have agreed upon the evils
in our business organization. they have
not agreed upon the remedies and the
legislation which the president pro.
poses is largely experimental
The Tribune has hesitatcd 10 believe
reports emsuating from Washington
shat the president favored an amend.
ment to the Sherman antitrust law
making al restraints of trade unYea-
soDable. Ii has pointed out that some
restraints Of trade have been rccog-
niZs6 nc TooSor.i,ro .aI a,hor =
-essonable by English law for centu.
ries. Indeed, we find the interstate
commerce commission itself imposing
rcstraints. Business could not be con.
Quoted at all If every kind of restraint
we're made illegal. 1t is pleasant
therefore, to find that the president
has resisted the clamor of the radicals
IN this respect. So far from advocat.
ing an amendment that would abolish
the rule of reason. he fayors legisla.
lion which shall diffcrcntiatc reason.
able from unreasonable monopolics and
restraints Of trade. He expresses the
opinion that "thcse practices. being
now abundaptly disclosed. can he de.
fined explicitly. and item by item for.
hidden hy statute in such terms as will
eliminate uncertainty.
When the United States supreme
court announced It's decision In the
STANDARD Oil case and Justice White
used certain obitcr dicta to outline the
''rule of reason loud lamentation
arose from the Democrats They pro.
tested that the supreme court was
making, not interpreting law, and thew
predicted that congress would speedily
amend the Sherman law so as 10 stsmp
all monopoly and restraint OF trade
unreasonable. Much of this wild talk
has continued down 10 the present
Only the other day Representative
Stanley of Kentucky introduced an
amendment 20 the Sherman law incor
porRting this radical sentiment. and
Il was reported through the repuIar
news channels that the president in.
dorsed the Stanley amendment. In
stead OF snnctiouing such an amend.
meut, the president practically adbercs
TO the Hrule OF reason,'' but asks for
legislation that will apply 10 the rule
specifically. His excuse is that the
business men OF the country want Ger.
tainty in this matter. but we very
much doubt whether long list of def.
nitions by congress will produce as
much certainty as is being produced
by the accumulating decisions Of the
supreme court. In the long run, the
supreme court viii be called upon 70
define the definitions
The proposed interstate trade com.
mission would be sort of eouity
tribunal. Not that it would be a
court, but, according TO the presi.
dent. il would be "a clearing house for
the facts by which both the public
mind and the managers OF great bust