Evening journal., 1918-05-20
A GRANNY-FUDcE COMMISSION.

A onloous busybody. the Federal Trade Commits
IA sion is marking up high score these days This
commission was TO be bipartisan one according 10
the organic which gave it birth. but # has never
been any such thing There isn't real Republican on
the commission.
The chairman, William J.. Harris was an Insurance
agent in small town in Georgia. and a Democratic
oflceholder for long time. When he was director Of
the census he put every Georgia idler who wanted
Federal job the payroll Now ne is running for the
Senate while his Job kept warm for him in case Of
his failure to get the senatorial nomination away from
Hardvick
Joseph Davies recently for the Democratic sena-
torship from Wisconsin, but was trimmed by Lenroot
despite the fact that he had Presidential backing and the
Wisconsin hotels crowded with Democratic cam
paign orators when Davies was running William b
Colver is newspaper and a Democrat John F.
Fort was Progressive when that party existed Victor
Murdock has tried about everything on the political
menu. As Republican he for time member Of
Congress- Then he became a Progressive and led the
fight in the House against Republican control He refused
to join Roosevelt in coming out for Hughes in 1916 and
he worked for Wilson He ran for the Republican
nomination for Senator from Kansas Senator Curtis
gave him the drubbng of his life A while ago he was
talked Of as the Democratic for the senatorshp
but even The Democrats have grown little skittish
about Victor.
At time when the Administration Is exhibiting
somewhat commendable attitude toward business and
relying leading business men 10 help Il out of It's
war troubles this commission trying to keep hatred
OF big business stirred up. II tried TO get bill through
Congress to fix tho price Of print paper and the Senate
squeched that attempt 1t sickcd the California trust
buster, Francis Heney. onto the meat packing industry
and he made things merry FOR time ne appears to
have been called or whether by the President or not no
one seems TO know At any he closed up like
clam, and the Supreme Court recently denied him the
right to snm through The files OF the meat packers
The latest activity Of the Federal Trade Commission
is complaint laid against the United States Gold Leaf
Manufacturers Association charging that organization
and The firms composing its membership with enhanc-
ing the price Of gold leaf through agreements concerted
action and understandings. The respondents it is
charged by agreement pool their surplus products and
export them, selling this surplus abroad at less price
than It is sold at the time in the United States
assessments being made TO on these foreign
sales when they made below cost" This Is declared
TO curtail competition Ia the United States
II the members Of the Federal Trade Commission had
not been wholly immersed In 'pernicous political
activity during the past few months they mght. .have
gotten wise TO the fact that the Webb Export bin which
passed the Senate April TO- permitted this very thing and
these pooling agreements for export trade were one Of
tho purposes Of that legislation. Mr. Wilson NAV be
compelled TO put his snuers the Federal Trade Com
mission for the duration Of the war