The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-04

per them In their great work. They are
devoting their wealth. energy. skill and
enterprise TO make the United States COM
nercialy supreme among the nations OF
uae world, and he would not leopard their
undertak kings fetter their growing
strength. There are corporation evils, how
ever, Wnicn he would remeuy ~ SUPER
vision and the publication OF reports Of
their operations. OVercapitaiza ,ion-the
watering" of stOck-is a danger he tninAs.
that should be avoided Corporations en-
gagged in Interstate commerce., he says,
should be regulated If they are found TO
exercise a license working TO the public
INJURY. II should be much the aim OF
those who seek for social betterment TO rid
the business world Of crimes OF cunning Is
to. rid the entire body polite Of crimes of
violence. Great corporations exist only be-
cause they are created and safeguarded by
our institutions; and II is. therefore. our
right and our duty TO see that they work
In harmony with these institutions.
Conditions have changed so radically
since the Constitution framed that II
does not meet the requirements of the
present time in regulating our vast COM
meTce- The States cannot deal with corDo-
rauons in a just or fair manner, for their
jurisdiction ends at their borders. rne
corporations in the hands of the national
government, and he would have a secre-
tary of commerce and industries to look
afrer their regula tiOn.
THE POOR NOT GROWING POORER.
The President again hits the agitator and
1T is not true that as the rich have grown
richer the poor have grown poorer. On the
contrary. 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" In this
country, when the rich prosper the wage
workers prosper. There may be exceptions.
but in the long run" he says, I'VE shall
go up or down together" Nothing can be
gained, but much may be lost. by intem-
peRate denunciation of capital. Disaster TO
great business enterprises can never have
its effects limited TO men at the top, he
says. 1T spreads throughout. and while IL
Is Dad for everybody IL is worst for those
furthest down. The capitalist may be shorn
OF ms luXurles, but the Wage-earner may
be deprived of even bare necessities"
The President, 1T will be seen, does not
favor any radical change in the tariff at
present. He realizes that the welfare of
the Wage-wOrkers is involved in any reduC-
tion of duties below the protection point.
and would do something that might force
them into competition with the cheaper Ia
Dor OF other countries. Reciprocity he
says must be treated as the handmaiden
of protection" He believes commercial
treaties can be arranged that would tend to
Increase our foreign trade. without harm
ing the artisan and the tOiler in general.
anG ne calls attention 10 the treaties now
before the Senate.
There is much satisfaction over some of
the Presidents recommendations. notably
MS advocacy of action tending to develop
the merchant marine his suggestions as TO
the currency, the necessity OF guarding
against raids on the treasury the need OF
amending the interstate commerce act, the
importance of constructing isthmian
canal and strengthening the navy, his rec
concentrations concerning the army and his
treatment of the Philippines question. Not
all Republican congressman are heartily in
accord with all his views. but the majority
vii! support his recommendations.
The message the whole. is regarded
mere as admirable. IL is not as argumenta-
tive or polished were President McKin-
ley's messages. but il will be read and dis
cussed fully as much, and some of the cpl
grammatic sentences will not soon be for
gotten.