The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-21
CHORUS OF PRAISE
IN THE NEWSPAPERS
The world" Says Message
shows "Radicalism Of
Sanity and Justice"
ADMIRABLE IN SPIRIT
The "Times" Says That the
Presidents Measures Won't
Alarm Business.
ADMIRABLE IN SPIRIT

President Wilson's message receives
general approval in the editorial columns
OF the principal newspapers Of the country.
Here are some selections:
The World
| President Wilson's message is no less
| admirable for it's tone and temper than
for it's substance.
| To say chat the Presidents recommended
tions are not radical would be absurd.
They are radical. They were intended to
be radical. But this radicalism is the
radlcallsm Of sanity and Justice.
II Is the sort OF radicalsm that regis
tiers the deliberate. well considered senti-
ments Of the American people In accord
ance with the Presidents maxim that
Legislation IL a business Of Interpretation.
not of orig!nation."
| II II q radicalism to which even the
leaders Of Big Business have In large
measure subscribed. and which represents
what the President well describes as "a
common effort to square business methods
with both public opinion and the law"
Such measures as Mr.. Wilson has writ
ten cannot fail to be reassuring to Ameri-
government by denunciation. no less than
of government by purchase, are ended.
All the froth and foam and fury Of tho
Roosevelt rocking horse crusade seem as
far removed from the question at issue
as one Of Thad Stevens's speeches on An
drew johnson. The executive authority Of
the Government of the United States IN
now in the hands OF a man. not in the
hands OF a spoiled child, and the President
| In En-, toN 90 sfnh 1tph
''the peace that is honor and freedom and
prosperity
The measures the President urges upon
Congress will not alarm business. Though,
Of unequal merit. none Of them Is disturb
ing. The railroads, we are confident. will
welcome "a law which will confer
upon the Interstate Commerce Commission
the power to superintend and regulate the
financial operations" by which they are
henceforth to be supplied with money for
their development.
Tho Indispensable condition II that this
supervision and regulation shall be not POI
litical and incompetent but wise. friendly
and Just Hostility to the railroads must
cease II we are to have that peace with
honor and prosperity to which the Presi'
dent aspires.
The Evening Post.
But what. then, OF his 1.-THE Presidents
. explicit propositions7 Some are concrete
, and positive others more or less tentative
. in character. InterloCking directorates
; - are TO be "eifectually prohibited.
though time IL to be allowed In which 70
, make the change without Inconvenience
e or confusion" Something will here de-
e pend on the full scope Of the prohibitory
= law. Superv' don by tho Interstate Com
{ meroe Commission over new railway secu-'
I Ity 10 tfalv nd cd IL
e this. We are inclined to think. even tho
9 railways will offer no objection
The further proposal for a more ex
plicit legislative definition Of the existinp
antitrust law must be judged much
more In the light of what such "A definition
y is to be. . The Evening Post has con
= sistently maintained that n radical o.
y sweeping amendment to the law woul'
4 tend to weaken its force and confuse II
application.
: The Presidents suggestion OF a trad
@ commission is more obviously feast
= BILE.
q The Chicago Tribune.
l. PROFESSIONALLY the most signlncan
,. thing about the Presidents message
Its spirit
J. Even year ago the President woul
J. not have made an important public VI
10 terance in this spirit, nor perhaps woul
10 the public have been ready to receiv
lie II in such n spirit. In the last fey
IS months opinion has rapidly crystalline
ID under the influence of events which !
themselves were elimination OF force
r at work for more than decade
l. The nations struggles to overtime,
Le the power Of concentrated money ar
e. pretty well ended. The epoch OF uncor
l. trolled individualism. with its excesses c
ID predatory enterprise. IL drawing rapid
At to n close, The enemy has capitulate,
q | taS zaI hv al nj m
to-day Is the task Of consolidating III
sc popular victory
"a The 81. Louis GiObe-Dcnocrat.
y, II is for Republicans now to deal wit
~ the new remedies proposed in spir
OF patriotic open mindedness.
We had already recognized the pri'
ciple of safety involved In n prohibition
intsrlocling dircctorates. provided legisl'
tion could make It possible that director
n, openly representing interlocked corpor'
lions were not replaced by others. LEI
adroit and efficient perhaps slt coun
ne Ing no less In the voting of pooled stock
VS. The proposal of an Interstate tra'
&c commission IL one we had qualifiedly a
IN proved, and we are glad To see that
proposes to qualify 1t about az we did
s. his saying that the country would ii
e. stantly approve" such body. but "wou
ne not wish TO see II empowered to mai
terms with monopoly"
d. 1nere ~ no party iSsue III tHio pio
he lem.
ed The Philadelphia Public Ledger.
We The prohibition OF interlocking dire
he torates unless too drastic In the details
its operations Is a reform long needs
Holding companies have already In enc
|. been declared Illegal by the Supreme Cot
II their effect IL to restrain trade.
Mt commission tn assume the duties or
terpreting DEGREES heretofore perform
by the Attorney General 10 wise.
iss The Presidents attitude 10 sufiicien
to conciliatory to inspire business with
rn- hope that at last II will be allowed
,ed / move forward with confidence.
ON The Boston Globe.
ION Peace. freedom and prosperity In co
merce and industry were tho krynotes
ion President Wilson'S nfth message.
by Expected but none the less gratifyi
was Mr.. Wilson's strong assurance Il
ely necessary adjustments would be a. sim
to as possible disturbing nothing essenti
tasEiuE nothing w by the EootA