Barton County democrat., 1914-01-23
NOT FIGHTING BIG BUSINESS.
Says President Wilson, But They
Must Obey Laws Like Otter Folks.

Washington, Jan. 90 President
Wilson personally laid before Joint
session Of congress today the funda-
mental principles of the Democratic
administrations program for dealing
with trusts and big business The
president presented the case, he said,
as It lies in the thought Of the cOun-
try reiterating that private monop-
oily is indefensible and intolerable,
and declaring that. conscientious bus:-
ness men throughout the nation would
not be satisfied until practices now
deprecated by public opinion as re-
straints of trade and commerce were
corrected.
We are now about to write the ah-
ditional articles Of our constitution Of
peace, said the president, the peace
that is honor and freedom and pros
perity.'
Besides suggesting the scope of leg.
islaEOn, the president made a per.
[sonal appeal for an atmosphere of
friendliness and cooperation In con-
gress while handling the problem.
The antagonism,' he said, between
business and government is over. We
are now about to give expression
to the best judgment of America to
what We know to be the business con-
science and honor of the land. The
government and business men are
ready to meet each other half way
in common effort to square busi-
ness methods with both public. opin-
ion and tine law
Basis Of Negotiations.
The chief points which the presi..
dent singled out as basis for nego-
tiations:
1.-Mfectual prevention of the in
terDochng of directories of great cor.
porahons-banks, railroads, industrial
commercial and public service bodies.
IA law to confer upon the Inter
state Commerce Commission the DOW.
er to superintend and regulate the
financial operations by which rail-
roads are henceforth to be supplied
with the money they need for their
proper Development and improved fa.
clldtdes for transportation. The presi-
dent made it clear that the prosper.
lty Of the railroads and the prosper
lty OF the country are inseparably
connected, in this regard.
3.-Definition of the many hurtful
restraints Of trade, by explicit legis-
lation, supplementary to the Sher-.
man law.
4.-The creation of a commission
to aid the courts and to act as a
clearing house of information in help
ing business to conform with the law.
5.-Provisions of penalties and DUN.
lshments to fall upon individuals re-
spOusible for unlawful business prsc.-
tices.
6.-ProhibitiOn Of holding compan-
les and suggestion that the voting
power of individuals holding shares il
numerous corporations might be re.
Stricted.
7,-Giving to private individuals TIE
right to found suits for redress on
facts and judgments proven in gov.
ernment suits and providing that stat.
ute of limitations should run only
from the date of conclusion of the
governments action.
The Message.
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress: In nv
report on the state of the union ;
which | had the privilege of reading
70 you ON the second of December
last, Veutured to reserve for dis
cussdon at later date the subject of |
additional legislation regarding the
very difficult and intricate matter of
trusts and m@opolies. The time
now seems opportune to turn to that
great matter; not only because the
currency legislation which absorbed
your attention and the attention al
Vne country, in December, is now dis.
posed Of, but also because opinion
seems 10 be clearing about us with
singular rapidity in this other great
l'eSo OF action. In the matter of the
currency 1T cleared suddenly and al.
50 very happily after the much debat.
90 act was passed; in respect Of the
monopoiies which have multiplied
about US and in regard to the var.
iOlS maanc nv -,h,.L