River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-04-01
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
From Hon. James A. Frear, M. c.


sippi quoted statesmen of the past
and political party platforms to the
effect that the unbroken rule against
third terms for President should not
be broken by President Wilson. Pay
ing strong eulogies to the President
as one of his faithful supporters and
coming from life long Democrat,
Mr.. Humphreys demanded that Pres
ident Wilson repudiate the claim in
certain quarters that he was to be a
third term candidate. Political
form pledges were read including the
Democratic platform of 1912, demand
ing adoption Of an amendment to the
Constitution making the President OF
the United States ineligible for re-
election and we pledge the candidate
of this convention to this principle"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Wilson's
first term, scant courtesy was paid to
the platform demand by his support
ers and the same disregard is again
expressed by those of his party who
believe him the most available noml-
nee notwithstanding his two terms
of service. The impelling reason for
refusal of men like Washington and
others to become third term candl-
dates arose from the possibility OF
perpetuating during life their posi-
tion in the most powerful place in the
world and thereby undermining the
great American democracy. Senator
Borah claimed in the Senate third
term candidacy is contemplated by
President Wilson and now the Presi-
dents attitude is challenged by Con-
gresham Humphrey, son of con-
federate general during the Civil War
and one of the ablest and oldest MEM
bers of the House.
In response to the decision of the
Supreme Court holding the Sherman
Antitrust law of no force against
the Steel Trust and further decis-
ion, also by divided court, that
stock dividends are not taxable I'M
der the income tax law, the writer in
troduced bill designed to recognize
the existence of trust or monopoly
when it becomes a self-evident fact
but to control its profits and meth
DDS in the same manner we now con-
troll railway charges and profits. 1t
suggests specific means of dealing
with problem of the age. A furth-
er provision extends to the Federal
Trade Commission the right to IN
ouire and pass upon different business
es engaged in producing the necessar-
les of life when excessive profits
therein described are collected from
the public. The New York Journal
of Commerce which printed the bill
in full says of it, "a more drastic and
at the same time strictly scientific
law has seldom made it's appearance"
and that it "bristles with teeth" This
estimate might give encouragement
for its passage in the future in some
form but for the additional suggestion
that it will NOT De permitted to get
out of the Committee without a Wig
orous protest. The bill is offered to
meet the tendency toward monopoly
in every line OF commercial activity
that ultimately must be squarely met.
The writer's budget bill received
praise from experts, but Congress is.
slow to adopt radical changes.
y
A House resolution has been Offer
ed asking for an investigation OF gas
oline prices that have constantly av-
lated to meet tn necessary oil trust
dividends. A dozen other investiga-
tions to meet the exhorbitant cost OF
print paper, cost of sugar, packers
profits and other burdens borne by
the consumer are before the House
or Senate. Investigations bring some
publicity but remedies are slow to
follow. Power to enforce reasonable
charges is required when profits
mount to upwords of 100 per cent
annually in some cases because the
public has no voice through investi-
cations to enforce its DEGREES. That
is the purpose of TIE bill proposed.
On the floor of the Senate last week
Borah last week demanded a show
down on Campaign expenses of both
Republican and Democratic candi-
dates. He charged, 81 do say that
the men who are managing the-cam-
paign propose to control the Republi-
can convention by the use of money
and l waive my senatorial privilege
when say that. Now let them go to
the bat if they want to-" / have omit
ted the candidates name which ap-
pears in the record, but Borah used
his "bat" on all candidates of all par
ties alike who are backed by fat