New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-25
Drop the Anti. Trust Bills and Let the
Country Have Rest.

The Democratic majority in Congress is pursuing
= cowardlv course with regard to the labor ana
farmers organization exemption which II PROPOSES
to put into the Sherman act. Labor UNION lep'e
sentatives haunt the galleries waterbury Trying "
get the record of individual members upon 'n"'
proposition. But no one speaks upon IT, Anu ~
one intends to be recorded as voting upon II specn
cay. President Wilson's course is not one VIII
brayer. He is unwilling 10 consent to anything
more than the vague mass OF words that nave oeen
nut into the bill 10 which he has given his approval
Saving that the Sherman act needs dennins' ne i"'
iects into il verbage about its application 10 laooi
and farmers orga nizaons which the courts Will not
have interpreted finally in a generation. 1t "ouu
he pcrfecty easy TO be defntive upon this pont IL
Mr.. Wilson had the necessary courage and honesty
Ue could either refuse what the labor unions de-
Inand fatty or grant it openly. He does nether'
He puts it up the courts, where, according 10 tne
whole theory upon which he and his party are pro-
ceedinc 70 amend the Sherman act, it emphatically
does not belong.
The labor unions are not satisfied to have it put
I'D TO the courts Business interests are not pleased
TO have it put up to the courts. This general ds-
satisfaction ought to be enough to prevent the pass
age of the Clayton bill during the present session.
and with it the rest of the administrators ANTITRUST
programme which. under the rules, is bound up
with the Clayton bill. If the Democratic party can
not please either the business interests or the coun
trv or the labor organizations there will be no pollt
cal advantage in passing the antitrust bills. And
there can be no doubt Of the present temper OF the
country toward further legislation affecting bust
ness If an election could be held to-day very
LARGO number of the Democratic Representatives IN
Congress would not return TO Washington. The
country is in a mood TO rebuke the Wilson admins
tration sharply for what it has done. Congress
perennially in session, always debating disturbing
legislation has got upon its nerves. 1t is weary OF
programmes 1t is sick of pedagogic masterfulness
in the White House. If Mr Wilson wants his party
TO win next fall the longer time he allows FOR the
public to forget the spectacle of the last few months
the better will be the prospects. He should smut up
shop. take Il vacation and give the country rest
from the legislative grind.
Not only is business bad and the country inclined
TO blame its losses upon Mr.. Wilson and his party
but the country is tired Of Mr. Wilson. If business
were good the President would have brought on
reaction against himself by his continuous perform
ance OF legislative slave driving in Washington His
mastery of his party was once novelty Con
tnuous exhibition OF it for month after month has
stalled the sensation. The trainers of the Constitu-
ton were wise in not providing for all-theyear-
around sessions of legislative bodies There is moth
ing Of which the people grow more impatient than
long legislative sessions. Such sessions grow douDy
intolerabe when the idea of financial loss is asso
ciated with them.
The country has had too much Congress and too
much Wilson and too little ready cash. The financial
side of the trouble may take care Of itself Prompt
self-effacement by the administration would be
expedient. A good way to begin would be TO shut
up shop as soon as possible and give the nation
chance TO forget the orgy Of efficiency.