Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-12-06

The funuamenlal rule in our national lie, |
the rule which underlies all Others is that
on the whole ana IN the long run we shall
go up or down together. There are eNcep-
lions, and in times OF prosperity some VIII
prosper tar more and in tunes of adyersi-
ty some will suffer far more than others;
but, speaking generally, period OF Soou
times means that all share more or leSS
in them, and in period OF herd times az u
feel the stress to n greater or less degree
lie points to the tact that in Tue past
the ignorant or reckless agitator mas
evils which he has been nominally oppos-
ing. In dealing with business interests
for the government to undertake by
crude and ill-considered Legislation to do
what may turn out to be bad would be
to incur the risk OF such far-reaching ma
tional disaster that it would be prefer
able to undertake nothing at all. The
men who demand the impossible or the
undesirable serve as the allies of the
forces with which they are nominally at
war for they hamper those who would
endeavor To find out in rational fashion
what the wrongs really are and to what
extent and in what manner it Is prac-
t!cable to apply remedies.
Remedies for the Trust Evil.
But while he says the above is true, he
yet sees many evils for which there ghould
be remedies provided. OF these evils the
chief Is over capitalization. because o.
It's many baleful consequences" lie says.
The conviction Of the American people
that the great corporations, kaown as
trusts, are In certain of their features and
tGiCInclts nuIllul 10 lue BSIeTdl NclldIc'
is based upon sincere conviction that com
binatlon and concentration should be rot
prohibited, but supervised, and. within
reasonable limits controlled, and in my
judgment this conviction Is right"
As a remedy for these evils he says:
The first essential in determining how
to deal with the great industrial COM
binations is knowledge of the facts
publicity. In the interest of the public
the government should have 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 or taxation
can only be determined after publicity
has been obtained by process of law and
in the course of administration. The first
requisite is knowledge, full and complete
Knowledge which may be made public
to the world.
Artificial bodies, such as corporations
and Joint stock or other associations de-
pending upon any, statutory law for their
existence or privileges should he subject
to proper governmental supervision and
fun and accurate information as to their
operations should be made public regu-
larry at reasonable intervals"
THE large corporations, commonly
called trusts. though organized in one
| state. always do business in many states.
often doing very little business in the
| is utter lack of uniformity in the state
\ laws about them. and as no state has
any exclusive interest In or power over
| their acts II has in practice proved i'm
possible to get adequate regulation
| through state action. Therefore in the
interest of the whole people the nation
should. without interfering with the pow
er of the states in the matter itself, also
assume power of supervision and reSula-
ton over all corpGrat!ons doing an inter
state business. This is especially true
where the corporation derives n portion
| of its wealth from the existence of some
business, There would be no hardship in
such supervision. Banks are subject Ia
| II. and in their case II Is now accepted
as simple matter OF course. Indeed Il
is probable that supervision of corpora
tions by the national government need
not so so far as is now the case with the
| supervision exercised over them by SC
conservative a state as Massachusetts In
order to produce excellent results"
The president believes that It will be
possible to secure the needed rcmed.e,
for the trust evil under the constitution
as Il now exists, but II congress thinks
otherwise he recommends that cpusttm
ttnnaI amendment be subm tied tnat will
COZ fer the 30 Se' necessary.
In connection with :he trusts he rec
ommends legislation ere eating cabinet of,
flc.r, to h" Known ts sec,etary OF ,.n,
n".ce, whose d, ties woui.i be to lea
with all du siions concern, commerce
lGher and the merchant marine
Would Exclude the Chinese.
The message contains strong rec I'm
riendation for lie reenactment at onr,
OF ,,am the present Chinese exclusion act ii
Wages are higher to-day In the Unite,
States than ever before in our histor.
. try. The standard OF living is also hishe
than ever before. Every effort of ,Sc,is
lator and administrator should be ben, t
secure the permanency of this conditio
OF things and its Improvement wherevc
possible. Not only must our labor b
protected by the tariff. but it should ais
be protected so far as II Is possible fron
: the presence in this country of any la
borers brought over by contract or q
those who; coming freely, yet represen
standard Of living so depressed tina
they can undersell our men in the labo
, market and drag them to lower ieye
, regard II as necessary. with this en-
: In view, to reenact Immediately the la,
! excluding Chinese laborers and
! strengthen II wherever necessary in q,
der to make its enforcement entirely ei
He also recommends such legislation. h
, an amendment to the interstate commerc
, law. as will protect the labor OF one stat
: another state. and also that the govern
. . rlent cease being party TO this compet
. tion by not purchasing goods made eitht
!, by convict labor or that in which wome
. and children are caused to work excessy
2 hours or at night.
In the labor unions of the present he see
- says
: VERY great good has been and will /
c accomplished by associations S or unioI
sng wSee een then wit
I slst.nce upon their own rights with la
o abiding respect for the rights OF other
: The display of these qualities In sue
: bodies Is a duty to the nation no le,
i than. to the associations themselve
d Finally there must also In many cases
+ safeguard the rights ard interests OF a
II Under our constitution there is muc
n more scope for such action by the sta
h But on points such as those touched {
Il above the national government can act,
e brotherhood remains as the % indispenseb ihI me
Ir prerequisite to success In the kind OF nj
l. tional life for which NE strive. Eat
l. he 80 works no outside help can avs
70 hiNn. But each man mus, remember all
10 that he is indeed his brothe. s keepe
and that while no man who refuses
ID walk can be carried with advantage
. himself or anyone else; yet that each