The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-09
DEMOCRATS R
VERY E~XTRAvAGANT
CONTINUED from page ~

cratic pledges. Extravaganza Is four.
ishing unchecked. With even ordin.
airy prudence we might bring expendi.
lures within the limits OF income. II
grteyes me to stand in opposition TO
my party in this matter. But I can:
not make light OF my given word.
shall remain loyal to the pledge Civ.
en- and stand true to the people" Then
Mr.. Bailey voted against the retention
Of the duty on sugar.
The Mountain and the Mouse
The bill creating the Federal Trade
Commission was signed on Septem
Der 26, 1914, and that organization has
been in existence nearly twenty
months. The enactment OF this law
was urged very strongly by Presi.
dent. Wilson. who insisted that there
was not a day to be lost In putting
this legislation into effect. He dc.
clared that such a body was needed
to put an end to the unfair meth.
DDS of competition that were a part
of the business world OF the United
States and to prevent anything that
tended to monopoly. In view Of the
urgency with which the bill was press.
ed by the administration there was a
general feeling that this commission
would be exceedingly active and would
take steps to determine and regulate
all matters pertaining to unfair com.
petition, and that through its work
there would be a destruction Of what
has been held up as domestic monop-
oily. During the past twenty months,
however, the Federal Trade Commits.
zion almost passed from the minds of
the people. It became almost a mem.
DRY. It has Just made it's first appear.
ance before the public and, strange
to say, not in the role Of monopoly
destroyer, or a guardian Of the Sher.
r1nn law, but az an advocate nf COM.
binations, and with demand for the
amendment of the Sherman law to
true that the combinations which the
Federal Trade commission desires to
have legalized are combinations Tor
the p.o:notion OF foreign trade. In
other words. the commission, utter
twenty months investigation, has ar
rived at one point of determination,
and that is, that American trade Is
hampereG by the prohibition Of the
Sherman law forbidding combinations
or associations to promote such trade,
There is not a doubt in the worli that
that the conclusion at which the com:
mission has arrived, after twenty
months, is sound and logical. 'fhe com.
mission finds that other nations enjoy
ma: ked advantages in foreig, trade
from superior facilities and mc:c ef.
Ifecti.e organizations. That IL !ruH:
II is what the Republican party has
ccittended for years. and that is why
Republic ans have stood firm for altar
IL law which would equalize this han.
dicap.
The commission has not said a word
about domestic combinations, or I'M.
fair competition, but.the effect, of Its
decision is, that an act that Is illegal,
II done In the course of domestic bust.
ness, Is right and proper IL done in
the course of foreign trade. What is
combination at home, and therefore
suspicious. becomes cooperation. and
laudabfe, when performed abroad. A
curious thing about this sudden &C.
tiyity of. the commission Is the com.
plete elimination OF the original ideas
aAoSSu NO vi dtlpll, duu In9
purposes set forth by the administra.
ton, are APPARENTLY forgotten and en-.
tirely neglected. The serious condi.
ton which necessitated the immediate
creation Of the Federal Trade commits.
sion has not thus far materialized:
while on the other hand. the commits.
sion's first important act Is to attempt
TO legalize In foreign trade the very
things which the President appeared
to think made for a serious condition
in domestic trade. Twenty montha
Is a very substantial time in which
to put into effect the machinery OF n
commission which at the time Of its
creation was supposed to be a neces.
silly of grave emergency. The Demo.
cratic party took great credit to Il.
self on the creation of the Federal
Trade Commission, but 1t is doubt.
full II 1t viii make a point In the COM.
ing campaign Of pointing with pride
to the record OF achievement OF this
particular body. Still the commission
aNr 1879.