Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-24

are We ABOUT 10 enter troubled
seas, or does smoother water lie
ahead?
We are on the eve Of important de-
velopments one way or the other
Abroad trade is falling off badly.
In this country conditions are sound
at the foundation. and a truce be-
tween Washington and business
could start a signal recovery.
But the head OF g. very responsible.
highly regarded investment banking
firm asked me this question:
Are the Interstate Commerce Com
missioners anxious to keep the Dem
ocratic Administration out of hole2
who appointed them?
II have been asked this, and have
heard significant hints on the sub
ject."
The Commissioners were, OF course.
Republican nominees but refuse to
believe that any one of them IL ami
mated by anti Administration, anti
Democratic motives ! have, indeed.
very good reason for believing that
the Commission has the highest re-
gard for President Wilson's ideas and
policies, and that it would co operate
with rather than antsgonize him.
My information is that the Com
missioners have virtually reached the
conclusion that the railroads need ra~
lief, and need 1t with all possible dis
patch Their decision on the nomen-
tous rate question, ! hear. may be
rendered about April 10. That IL viii
not be wholly unfavorable to the rail-
roads is now accepted as certainty.
Washingbon's intentions have been
better than its performances. 1t has
meant well, but has acted foohshly in
many instances. Some proposed laws
been absolutely impossible and ride
ulous.
President Wilson, I learn, realizes
this. He is now particularly anxious
to avoid indorsing any measure cal
cuated to upset the countIy's bust
ness equilibrium. The anti-truSt
give Brothers" have been found sad
ly wanting. as every thinking man OF
affairs clearly saw the moment they
appeared President Wilson IS bent
upon pulling every unnecessary tooth
from these bills. He wants only COM
not vengeftIl, destructive laws that
woul precipltate chaos in an effort to
reach Big Business"
The Stock Exchange will also will
be modified.
had the privilege of entertaining
Senator owen when he was in New
York. On the strength Of a fairly
intimate friendship with him, ! felt
entitled to talk with perfect freedom.
We discussed the Stock Exchange
bill. OF course, and | found him
ready to consider objections TO the
measure as now drawn, I particu
larly emphasized that Americans
would not submit to tampering with
their mail, that freedom Of cOmmuni-
cation is as inviolate as freedom Of
speech, and that other methods
would have to be devised for reach
ing INSCRIPTIONS financial manipu-
lators and promoters. A more feast
BILE plan was discussed, and il may
prove the best available solution
But Il was the general situation
and the gravity of the railroad posi-
ton that I took occasion to impress
upon his mind.
Senator owen is not A hot head. He
is not a revolutionist. He Is not
corporation batter Neither is he
sycophant, a kow-tower TO High Fl
nance
This little anecdote will picture the
man:
MADE his fortune selling good.
clean candy at a small profit per
pound" remarked as we passed
Lofts store in City Hall square,
What building Is that?' he asked
as ws turned toward the Woolworth
Building.
THE product Of hve-and -ten-c
stores" ] replied.
You see what that means, don't
you?" he commented. Service
service to the people, TO all the peo-
pie, in both cases. That was what l
set myself as my aim when 7 entered
political life. 1t is the Only road to
success"
The Senator, incidentally. has got q
good deal further than the average
politician.