Evening journal., 1914-01-14

WORK OUTLINED
President Desires Friendly
Cancellation Rather Than
hostile AntaGOniSm
WOULD MAKE GUILT
IN CASES Personal

WASHINGTON, Jan. a. President
Wilson has given the members of the
Cabinet his ideas on the governments
relation 20 big business, the field that /
anti-trust lcgislation should cover in the
present session OF Congress and the
spirit with which he believed the task
should he approached
Pence and not war, feeling OF
friendly Cancellation rather than OF
hostile antagonism, and yet a eonstruc-
tive program that win eliminate uncer-
tainty about the law and stimulate the
growth of legitimate business, these are
the fundamentals Of the Presidents plan
OF action, to be embodied in the mes
sage which he viii read at oint ses
sion of Congress next week. He present
ed the document to the Cabinet ycster
day and worked all afternoon ON some
minor changes as result of the meet
ing. Members Of the Cabinet spoke of
the message rs a progressive declara-
tion that would reassure the business
world OF the sincere intentions Of the
administration 10 deal fairly with IL.
Today the President outlined the mes
sage 60 the Democratic members of the
Senate committee ON inter state com
meroe and the House judiciary COM
mittee at White House conferences.
While the President has not yet reveal
ed his views on detailed legislation, he
hopes that his message win be the
guiding influence that will keep the
scope OF activity within a well defined
Fnss afi
any congestion of radical bills that
MIGHT be rnisinterpreted by the outside
world So far as known the cardinal
features Of the Presidents plan are:
/ Supplement'ng the Sherman Anti
Trust law 10 reduce the dcbatable
ground.
.. The prohibition Of interlocking
directorates.
3. Location cf Individual responsi-
bi.ity and the fixing OF personal guilt
tor all violations.
4. The creation Of an Interstate
Trade Commission to perform the
functions not only Of a bureau of In
formation but to determine by its in
vestigat'ons whether the DEGREES OF
dissolution or mandates of the court
are carried out
Legislation Needed Now.
The President is proceeding on the
theory that legislation is necessary
at this time and that there should be
no delay In accomplishing those re-
ferns on which public sentiment Is
agreed. The recent action OF J. p.
Morgan & Co IN voluntarily withdraw
ing from numerous direciOrates on
account OF "a change in public senu-
ment" Is cited by Administration sup
porters as evidence that the business
world expects interlocklng director
ates TO be dissolved.
In this connection Mr.. Wilson be-
iieves the whole course Of pubic
opinion has undergone a remarkable
change in the last few years. Frcm
point where doubt as TO the existence
of trusts was at first expressed
Though the period when reasonable
. and unreasonable combinations in re-
straint of trade were debated, he be
!, iieves there has developed now an ac
3 centance of the principle that pri
vate monopol'es are indciensible anS
that trusts practice certain thing
which ought to be prohibited.
The President is also re'teraiing q
those with whom he Is discussing th
subject a view expressed in his pre-
I, convention speeches two years ago -
l. that to stop "ioy-riding" It is neces
sary ito arrest the chauffeur and no
- the automobile" He is expected &
recommend in his message that th
law with respect to personal gull
Z should be vigorously enforced an
provision mqde in all legislation 70
Individual offensea.
: For Trade Commission.
One Of the most important feature
~ Of the antitrust program Is the IN
ter--State Trade Commission. Th'
organization differs from the kind O
commission which was advocated b
the National Progressive party dur
ing the last campaign. in that
would not be vested with powers Q
regulation. hut would be the mediu'
" throueh which TIE Government woul
v keep the business world informed an
& eliminate "the twilight zone" in bi
Industry.
There have been repeated request
4, for Information from business cot
is Germs ana the need Of an au'horits
tive reservoir of Information alread
has been demonstrated in the presel
"a, Administrations experience with th
~. trust question. It is contemplated
vi place the Commissioner of Corpor'
Id tons at the head of the Inter-Stal
IT, Trade Commission. hut to include
on its membership business men WI
az would know business methods suff
is. ciently to conduct the necessary il
ouiries and furnish the desired info
a. nation
sss With the Presidents discussion
em the whole subject at todsv's Cabin
al meeting. the talk of SLOWING up" Z
the Administration program AND pos
a. noning trust ierirlation until the ID
81. cemher session OF CONGRESS- arp@reu
ce w disanpeared in executive quarte'
ng. Administration supporters in Il
ga House and Senate will endeavor
"' keep the work of trust reform with
nj certain limits and to nush it forwa
nv 20 raD'd completion. so as 20 cut she
of the ne~iod Of doubt as TO what adju'
ments NAV be IN prospect for q
II. business of the country.
p. o. :. OF A. DANCE.
70 Washington Camp. No. 4. p. o. S.
.si- A will hold its first dance of I