Morris tribune., 1918-11-01

sion to be dealt with under the Clay
ton Act. I explained my vote fully,
and sent copies of my speech to many
people in the district whom the act
passed. The following from Senator
expresses my views:
when the Clayton bill was first
written it was a raging lion with a
mouth full of teeth. It has degen-
Grated into tabby cat with soft gums.
q plaintive new and an anemic ap.
pearance. It is a sort Of legislative
apology to the trusts, delivered hat in
hand, and accompanied by an assur'
ance that no discourtesy is intended.
1.-THE doctrine of determination has
given place to the policy of diplo-
matte negotiations to be conducted by
various boards, with the express UNI
derstanding that whatever the result,
no law violator is to be hurt, no trust
magnate is to be sent to Jail, no rude
sheriff or marshal is to lay his cal
loused fingers on the perfumed collar
of captain of industry.
"Ah, this Is great antitrust Con-
gress. Compared with the Congress
that put upon the statute books the
Sherman Act, we appear as would a lot
of wet nurses in comparison with
soldiers on the field of battle, arms in
hand. If we had the original Sher-
man Act before us this Congress, the
trust busters of the present day and
generation, would shy like the country
horse of 15 years ago did at the sight
OF an automobile. Well, old Sherman
and the Republicans of that day did
pass that law. Their little fingers
were bigger than our loins. Theirs
was the spirit of the eagle, ours that
Of the barnyard fowl.
"It (the Clayton Act) is a sort Of
a Hague propaganda, promulgated
under the white flag to the soothing
melody of peace on earth, good will
towards trusts"
such an act? Trust magnates know
my views on the trust question, and
there is good reason why they should
oppose me.
My vote on the Pneumatic Tube Is
also made the subject of criticism.
The Government has for many years
rented certain underground tubes for
the transmission Of mail In some Of
our large cities. The Postmaster Gen.
eral reported that the mail could be
transported better by automobiles. A
large commission of very able and
distinguished men were selected from
the House and Senate to investigate
the question. This commission, with
the exception Of one member, reported
in favor Of maintaining this service.
The business interests in the cities
were unanimously in favor Of con-
tinuing it.. The commission, however,
recommended, and the bill was drawn
accordingly, that the Government
should acquire the tubes, and that
their value should be ascertained by
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
and the sum ascertained, If not in
excess Of a figure fixed by this COM
mission, should be paid. It would
seem as though the Government could
not be cheated very badly when the
value of the tubes was to be ascer-
tanned by its own officers. A major
ity. of both House and Senate voted
to accept this proposition. Despite the
Presidents veto, I think the vote was
amply justified. The automobile sys-
tenn which the Government has SUBJ
stituted is much slower and will prob
ably be more expensive.
There is one more specification in
these charges, namely, that I opposed
the creation of the Shipping Board,
and this interfered with war prepare
ton. The vote on this proposition
was before we had any idea of getting
into this war. 1t was proposed as q
purely commercial venture to pur-
chase ships and send them to Europe
with our cargoes, despite the SUBJ
marine war against all such commerce.
It is evident that, if such ship should
be sunk, it would be an attack upon
Government property, that would be
almost certain to involve us in war,
and besides, the amount to be appro.
priated was so small, so million dol
lars, that 1t would practically amount
to nothing. Some six or eight ships
was all this money could buy at that
time. After we entered the war,
have voted for all the shipping asked
for.
AS more of this kind of campaign.
ing is promised I may be permitted
to anticipate the charge that / did not
favor $3.50 for wheat because failed
to vote for it on our roll call though
I supported 1t on other occasions, and
voted for the $40 finally agreed on.
! did miss one vote when l was home
for few days to render the last sad
saruicas To nna MhnSa lifa Was in.