The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-17
OUTLINES TRUST MESSAGE.
WILSON HAS MAPPED OUT PLANS
OF LEGISLATION FOR
TRUSTS.
To Have Trade Commission Which will
Keep Government and Industry IN
formed as to What Law Requires
Personal Responsibility Another
Point.


his ideas on the governments rela-
ton TO big business" the field anti
trust legislation should cover in the
present session Of congress and the
spirit in which he believed the task
should be approached.
A feeling of friendly conciliation
rather than of hostile antagonism, yet
constructive programme that will
eliminate ncertainty about the law
and stimulate the growth Of legiti-
mate business are the fundamentals
of the presidents plan of action to be
embodied in the message he will read
at a joint session OF congress next
week. He presented the documen. to
the cabinet today and worked all att
ernoon on minor changes as result
of the meeting.
Cabinet members speak of the mes
sage as a progressive declaration that
would reassure the usiness world Of
the sincere intentions of the admin
istration to deal fairly with it.
Tomorrow at a White House confer
ence the president will outline the
message to the Democratic members
Of the senate committee on inter-
state commerce and the house ju-
dietary committee.
While the president has not reveal
ed his views on detailed legislation,
, he hopes his message will be the
guiding influence that will keep the
scope of activity within a we'll defined
compass, eliminating, SO far as pos
sible, any congestion OF radical bills
that might be misinterpreted by the
outside world.
So far as known the cardinal fea-
lures OF the presidents plan are:
l. Supplementing the Sherman anti
trust law to reduce the debatable area
around it.
.. The prohibition of interlocking
directorates.
3. Location Of individual responsi-
bilty and the fixing of personal guilt
FOR all violations.
4. The creation of an interstate
trade commission to perform the
functions of bureau of information
and to determine by its Investigations
whether DEGREES of dissolution or
mandates OF the courts are carried
cut
The president is proceeding on the
| theory that legislation is necessary at
this time and that there should he
no delay in accomplishing these re-
forms on which public sentiment is
agreed. The recent action of j. =.
Morgan e. Co., in voluntarily with
drawing from numerous directorates
on account Of a change in public
sentiment" is considered by admin
istration supporters as evidence th3t
the business world expects interlock-
ing directoratcs to be dissolved.
In this connection President Will
son believes the whole course Of pub
lie opinion has undergone remarkable
change in the last few years. From a
point where doubt as to the existence
OF trusts was at first Expressed
through the period when reasonable
and unreasonable combinations in re-
straint of trade were debated. he be-
lieves there has developed now an ac-
ceptance of the principle that private
monopolies are indefensible and that
trusts practice certain things which
ought to be prohibited.
The president is also reiterating TO
those with whom he is discussing the
subject view expressed in his pre-
convention speeches two years ago
that. to stop Joy riding" it is neces-
sary ito arrest the chauffeur and not
the automobile" He is expected TO
recommend in his message that the
law with respect To personal guilt
should be enforced vigorously and
provision made in all legislation for.
individual Offcnscs.
one Cf the most important features
Of the antitrust programme is the in
terstate trade commission. This or
ganization differs from the kind of
commission which was advocated by
the national Progressive party during
the last campaign in that it would
not be vested with powers Of regula-
ton. Lut would he the medium
through which the government would
keep the business world informed
and eliminate the twilight zone" i'm
big business"
There have been repeated requests
Tor information from business con
Germs ana the need of an authorita-
tive reservoir ui information already