Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-05

Washington Dec. 3.-President
Roosevelt's message read to congress
today was $4,000 worIs long, and in
the opening an eloquent eulogy was
paid to William Mckinley, who was
spoken of as "the most widely loved
man IL all me United States" Then
the question of anarchy is considered
and the president urges a more rigid
exclusion of undesirable foreigners.
1t is also recommended that the federal
courts be given jurisdiction over any
man who kills or attempts to kill the
president or any man who by the
constitution or by law is in line of sue
cession for the presidency.
TRUSTS
During the last five years business con-
hdence, continues the president has been
restored, ana the nation is to be congratu-
lated because of its present Astounding
prosperity Such prosperity can never be
created by law alone, although ii is easy
enough to destroy it by mischievous laws.
Then follows consideration of the trusts.
The creation of great corporate fortunes
has not been due to the tariff nor to any
other governmental action, says the presi-
dent, but to natural causes in the business
world, operating in other countries as they
operate in our own. The process has
aroused much antagonism, a great part OF
which is wholly without warrant. 1t is
not true that as the rich have grown richer
the poor have grown poorer. On the con
trary, never before has the average man.
the wage-worker the farmer, the small
trader, been so well off as in this country
and at the present time. chief reason
for caution in dealing with corporations is
to be found in the international CONNER
ctal conditions Of today. The same bust
ness conditions which have produced the
great aggregations of corporate and in
dividual wealth have made them very po-
tent factors in international commercial
competition. Business concerns which have
the largest means at their disposal and are
managed by the ablest men are naturally
those which take the lead in the strife for
commercial supremacy among the nations
of the world. 1t cannot too often be
pointed out that to strike with ignorant
violence at the interests of one set of
men almost inevitably endangers the in
terestS of all.
There is widespread conviction in the
minds of the American people that the
great corporations known trusts are in
certain of their features and tendencies
hurtful to the general welfare. Corpora
lions engaged in Interstate commerce
should be regulated if they are found to
exercise a license working to the public in
jury. 1t should be much the aim of
those who seek for social betterment to
rid the business world of crimes of cum
ming as to rid the entire body polite of
crimes of violence The first essential in
determining how to deal with the great in
dustral combinations Is knowledge of the
facts-publicity. In the interest of the pub
lie, the government should ihave the right
to inspect and examine The workings of
the great corporations engaged in inter-
state business Publicity is the only sure
remedy which we can now invoke. What
further remedies are needed in the way of
governmental regulation taxation can
only be determined after publicity has
been obtained, by process of law, and in
the course of administration. The large
.
though organized in one state, always do
business in many states, often doing very
little business in the state where they are
incorporated. There Is utter lack of uni
formity in the state laws about them; and
as no state has any exclusive interest in
or power over their acts. it has in prac-
tice proved impossible to get adequate reg
ulation through state action. Therefore,
in the interest of the whole people, the ma
ton should. without interfering with the
power of the states in tile matter itself,
also assume power of supervision and regu-
iaton over all corporations doing an inter
state business. The president believes that
a law can be framed which wi enable the
national government to exc. c Sc control
along the lines above indicated, profting
by the experience gained through the
passage and administration of the inter
state-commerce act. II, however, the Judg-
ment of the congress is that 1t lacks the
constitutional power to pass such an act,
then a constitutional amendment should be
submitted to confer the power.
a
to be known as secretary of commerce and
industries, as provided in the bill intro
duced at the last session of the congress.
II should be his province to deal with com
merce in its broadcast sense, including
among many other things whatever con
Germs labor and all matters affecting the
great business corporations and our mer-
chant marine. IL possible legislation should
be passed. in connection with the interstate
commerce. law, which will render effective
the efforts of different states to do away
with the competition of convict contract
labor in the open labor market. in all in
dustries carried on directly or indirectly
for the United States government women
and children should be protected from ex-
cessive hours of labor from night work,
and from work under unsanitary condi-
tions The government should provide in
its contracts that all work should be done
under. fair conditions, and in addition to
setting high standard should uphold it
nv proper inspection. extending III neces-
ssry TO the subcontTactors- The govern
ment should forbid all night work lof
women and children
IMMIGRATION.
our present immigration laws are I'M
satisfactory We need every honest ana
efficient immigrant fitted to become an
American citizen, every Immigrant VINO
Games here to stay, who brings here a
strong body. stout heart, good head,
and n resoute purpose to do his duty Wen
in every way and to bring up his children
as law-abiding and eod.tearihg nsnn h"t >
comprehensive law enacted with the obJect
~ working a threefoid improvement over
onr present system. First, We should aim
10 exclude absolutely not only all persons
who are known to be believers ID anarchls-
tie principles or members OF anarchlstic
societies. but also all persons who are OF a
low moral tendency or of unsayOry reputa-
ton The second object ought TO be TO Sc
cure by a careful and not merely perfume
tory educational test some Intelligent
capacity TO appreciate American institu-
ti6ns and act sanely as American citizens.
Finally. all persons should be excluded VINO
arc below a certain standard OF economic
titness to enter our Industrial field as com
netitors with American labor. There
Should be proper proof Of personal capacity
~ earn an American living and enough
money to insure a decent start under
american conditions.
THE TARIFF.
There Is general acquiescence In our pres
ont tariff system national policy. The
first requisite 10 our prosperity is the con
tInnfsv and stability Of this economic pol
icv Nothing could be more unwise than
"a disturb the business interests OF the
country BY any general tarin change at TINS
time. Yet It is not only possible. but emil
nentlv desirable. to combine with the
stahjiity OF our economic system a supple