The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-06-16
CHARGES CONSPIRACY
TO BLOCK LEGISLATION
President Wilson Creates Sensa-
ton in Official Circles.
TALKS OF TRUST PROGRAM.
Says Sentiment FavorinG Postpone
ment is Result of Campaign
Will Not Influence Him.

VIII NOJ lnnuenCe Him.
Washington, June 15.-President
Wilson made the direct charge today
that sentiment in favor of postpone-
ment of the administration trust leg
islative program was the result OF a
campaign of certain interests and
1ntimated that it was the cause of the
psychological business depression"
of which he recently spoke.
In support of the Presidents view
the White House made public copies
OF letters and kilograms circulated
among business men calling for ad-
journment of Congress without COM
pletion of the trust bills, praying for
the freight rate increase asked by the
railroads of the interstate commerce
commission and calling for a halt of
the attacks on business"
President Wilson made it clear to
his callers that the campaign, if such
IL might be called, would not infu-
ence him and that it was his plan to
push the trust program through the
senate with the aid of all the means
at his command.
He expressed the view that busi-
ness was as good if not better now
than short while ago and that If
would be less harmful to business in
terests to have the trust legislation
program completed than to be con
fronted with a period of uncertainty
which would accompany delay.
One Of the letters which came into
possession of the White House. hut
was not given out today, was circu-
lated by the Simmons Hardware Co
of st. Louis. e. c. Simmons. head of
the company, had been selected for
membership in the federal reserve
board and his nomination was to have
gone to the senate today. This morn
ing 1t was announced at the White
House that Mr.. Simmons had de-
clined the place. White House Of
hcials emphatically denied, however.
that the circular letter had any con
nection with this development
Another circular letter made pub
Tic, purporting to have been sent ont
by the Pictorial Review Co, of New
York, was signed by W. p. Abnelt as
president.
IL was dated May 1st, and enclosed
draft OF a letter which embraces
the views OF a majority of the think
Ing business people of our section OF
the country and which should be ad-
dressed to the President of the United
States, the Congress and members OF
the interstate commerce commission
respectively"
The letter concluded: ''Ir YOU ore-
Ter to use copies of the enclosed let
ter we will mail you as many n Won
can conveniently use. II will he
more effective. however, if you write
them on your own letter heads"
The form of letter attached was an
appeal for post ponement OF trust leg
lslatlon and five per cent freight
rate increase for the railroads.
A copy of a night lettergram con-
tanning the contents OF the form let
ter in condensed terms was attached
The letter purported to have been
sent out by the Simmons COMPANY
was dated June 9th, which was after
Mr.. Simmons had been offered >
place on the reserve board.
Not since President Wilson made
his charge of IAN insidious lobby, in
Washington to influence tariff legis-
IatiOn has there been eansot;o, - 3
such a sort in official circles. News
or what the President had said and
or the giving out of the circular let
ters spread quickly to the Capitol,
where it became the subject of AM
mated discussion in both houses of
Congress.