Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-16

sent, but omit the names of the rep
resentatives and senators from your
state. with whom you are no doubt
familiar
In part the former letter which was
presented for transmission to public
officials follows:
I'VE respectfully appeal to your
sense of Justice and ask in the name
of the suffering American people, IN
the name of common sense, why wan
tonly harrass business at this jucture
when it is struggling for it's very ex-
istence?
"Whv turn more thousands of men
idle when so many families are already
starving?
Why subject business to any ex-
detrimental legislation now when it is
not prosperous? Postpone it. Drastic
action on your part is a peril at TINS
time. What we do need is little
building up-no more tearing down.
We have had a sufficiency of expert
mental legislation for the present.
The granting of the petition of the
Eastern railroads for a per cent, freight
increase will do more for the prosperity
and development of the country than all
legislation against unlawful restraint ana
monopohes.
"Such determination will result in
movement forward, not backward anu
any contrary determination by the Inter
state Commerce Commission will empha-
size the fact that Washington hostillty
is baking prosperity The merchants OF
this country are vitality Interested Busi-
ness must not be retarded otherwise
commercial failures increase.
1.-THE continual senseless attacks by
governmental bodies upon merchants by
impending assaults upon railroads, indus-
trial and mercantile corporations, revls-
ion of the tariff and currency reforms
have resulted in sinking business to such
an extent that it has thrown hundreds
of thousands out of employment, reaue-
ed wages and decreased values in rail-
road Industries and mercantile corpora
tons 20 the extent of at least SS'Ooo'u0o'ooo.
.pThe most serious situation that CON
fronts the country today is the fact that
unemployment is growing more acute.
We need relief We ask Congress of the
United States to hak before it is too
late POSTPONE all anti-legislation husi-
ness. Give the country a rest and last
but not least, we ask Congress to earn
well-deserved early rest.
Telegram Attached
A telegram attached to the letter
said in part:
Especially do we recommend that
no further attempt at legislation on
the matter of the control of business
or passing of antitrust laws should
be continued at this time. What the
country needs more now than any
thing else is quiet time-an abso-
lutte rest from the agitation of politics
and assaults upon bustness-it does
not make any difference whether 1t Is
big business or little business.
we therefore strongly recommend
and earnestly hope that Congress may
be convinced that they have done
enough law making for the present,
that the country is absolutely tired and
surfeited with political agitations. and
that the agitatio now of the control
Of business is exceedingly injurious,
and will serve to retard an improve
ment in business which otherwise
would be very great and rapid
bringing in the most desirable way
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der.
I'VE Submit these arguments or rea-
sons to you, asking YOU and praying
yo,, to use your best influence in fol-
lowing the lines suggested in this COM
n1unication, viz: To have Congress
shut up shop and go home. If you
gree with us send to your congress
men and senators a telegram some
thing like the enclosed and urge your
commercial club to pass strong reso-
buttons along similar lines and send
them to Washington. Our representa-
tives there are worn out, physically
and mentally and will welcome your
suggestion that further consideration
and legislation affecting business De
postponed until December"
The President declined to make any
extended comment on the letters, de-
claring that they spoke for them
selves.