The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-17
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Ever since there has been big
buslne16' or s'trust" queotton in tbs
country. the leaders and office-seekers
In tho Democratic party have rushed
pellms1l through the land vociferously
denouncing the captains Of finance and
industry. ana their predatory wealth"
and promising to put them entirely
out Of business and In Jail, II the peo-
pie would only give them the oppor-
tunity to do %. Absolutely no quarter
was to be given them. And President
Wilson has been well to the fore
among his Democratic brethren In this
crusade Of words and threats, but In
his more dignified way. Of course.
But now that the time has arrived
for President Wilson and the Demo-
cratic hosts to devise their solutions
Of the trust problems there has been
q sudden change Of front on their
part. Instead Of approaching the con-
test with hatred and hostility. their at
titude II to be ONE Of friendliness ana
cancellation. This IL the word that
comes from the White House. ana the
Democratic leaders In both the senate
and the house Of representatives who
have had anything to say ON the sub
ject have chimed In with . ''me too"
In other words. President Wilson
lets it be known that he and the Dem
ocratic party have NO intention Of
waging . war to the death on "big
business" They are going to strive
to enact legislation that will dehorn
helpful to all legitimate business. And
~va ea
passed will gfve plenty Of time for the
big corporations to readJust their
methods Of operations to meet its de-
mands.
II this program that President Will
son has mapped out IL followed. a. 1t
undoubtedly will be. It win be far and
away the most important accomplish
ment Of the Wilson administration. It
will add more to its lustre than even
the generally excellent currency law.
the groundwork Of which was estAb-
lished by the investigations ana activi-
ties Of the Republicans. There are evils
a-plenty in the methods Of some Of tho
''big business that haven't been
reached by the Sherman antitrust law
and itp administration a. construed by
the supreme court. Legislation sup
Elemental to It 10 needed to stamp
them out. That 1t n to be worked out
in q spirit Of friendliness to the inter-
ests involved IL certain to result in
legislation Of the right sort.
More important to the welfare OF
the country. though. than this legis-
ton no matter what form It may take.
10 the changed attitude Of the Demo-
Gratis under the leadership of President
Wilson. towards ''big business" Over
night, as It were, they have ceased to
be corporation baiters. Nothing will
do so much to restore the confidence
that il 30 sorely needed just now in
the world Of business. The batting of
business that has gone on for years
has been responsible in the main for
the dampers that have been put on
the prosperity Of tho nation. Every
day, almost. for years there has been
a threat from one or more politicians in
and out of office to take q crack at
business and would make 1t sit up and
take notice that its ultimate destruc-
ton was at hand. Few Of these
threats have been fulfilled. IT II true.
But they have created nervousness
among business men. big and little.
that has caused them to go as slow
as possible without shutting up shop.
And the Democrats were among the
fiercest Of the business baiters. That
they announce their intentions to be
reasonable in their dealings with busi-
ness, IL the best news that has floated
over the wires from Washington in
many q day. And business is likely to
respond nobly.
If the Democrats had attempted to
make good their campaign threats OF
last fall and Of other presidential cleo
tions. the world of business would soon
have become a kingdom of chaos.