Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-07-07
STANDPATTERS
ARE RIDDLED
CONTINUED from page II

The House reflects public opinion
and never more faithfully than six
months before the congressional cleo
tions. Why the Republicans of that
body did not show more fighting spir-
it in opposition to this legislation
so obnoxious apparently to business
interests, is very mysterious If con-
sentative reaction in the country is
under full Roadway. 1t is all very
we'll to say that the Senate is expected
to hold up the bills; but certainly not
many House members wished to iden-
tify themselves with the much-herald'
ed reaction amongst the American
people.
That reaction is coming-sometime
in some form-is undeniable. 1t al
ways manages to arrive when the peo
pie sicken of the other thing. For
nearly 10 years big business has been
on the hot griddle of investigations
exposures, antitrust suits and hos
tile" legislation, until it is virtually or
a strike at the present day. The pres
ent depression may be traced in nc
negligible degree to capitals policy OF
passive resistance to further regulation
and reform 1t is sore, it Is ugly. II
waits, hopefully, for political over
turn to it's own taste. 1t never had a
bit of use for Bryanized democracy;
and it has been unable to control the
present administration.
Every important measure put
through by President Wilson and his
supporters has touched business
somewhere on the raw. The new
tariff hit highly protected manufac
turers; the new bank law hit the
money trust; the income tax hit
wealth generally; and these antitrust
bills hit holding companies, inter
locking directorates and the kind OF
railroad finance that has had its CHIEF
exemplification in the performances
of Mr.. Yoakum of the Frisco. Mr.
Moore of the Rock Island and Mr.
Mellen Of the New Haven.
Reaction Coming.
The reaction will come, but it Is a
question whether the big business
gentlemen who are urging it to hustle
along will be satisfied when it ar
rives. It is a safe forecast that they
will find it the kind of reaction that
does not turn back the hands of the
clock. 1t will be a reaction that will
compel a pause and standing still
for awhile, but this country will not
again be the United States Of the per.
iod of M. A. Hanna & Co. Many
things have been done which cannot
be undone: and, as soon as their ICON.
fidence" is restored, the financial
giants themselves, with all their fol
lowing of company managers and law
yers and promoters, will not want
them to be undone. And that will be
progress of a genuine everlasting
sort.
That a reaction is near at hand
however, is not in the least certain
This hard times cry is a political
quicksand. Business is not so bad
as many try to make out, the situa
ton in country of big crops and 100,
100000 consumers may change for the
better in a day. 1t is subject to SO
many independent influences beyond
human control that no one can fore
cast it's future development. But If
Wilson goes down, under too heavy
load of adversely, the whole radical
or progressive movement will go with
him. Mr.. Roosevelt has himself play
ed too conspicuous part in the war
fare on business interests" to ride
into power on calamity. If there is to
be another complete Democratic fail
ure along business lines. as there
was in Mr.. Cleveland's second admin
istration, the party of conservatism,
.let us alone" and never-failing pros
perity" will be the logical beneficiary.
Mr.. Penrose is banking on it, and he
is not without some shrewdness In
politics, as we'll as "the greatest liv-
ing exponent of corrupt politics and
special privilege" - Springfield
(Mass) Republican.