The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-12-06
THE TRUSTS.
They Can He Controlled Only by Na-
tiOnnl Action.

In my message to the present congress
at It's first session l discussed at length
the question OF the regulation Of those
big corporations commonly doing an in
terstate business, often with some ten
dency to monopoly. which are popularity
known as trusts The experience OF the
Ion. the desirability OF the steps then
proposed. A Fundamental requisite Of
social efficiency is high standard OF
this Is in no wise Inconsistent with pow
er to act In combination for aims which
cannot SO well be achieved by the, indi-
OF civilization Is the inviolability of prop
erty: but this Is in no wise inconsistent
the Of Tsf me 81 90 ,he
der the name OF corporate franchises. in
s9ch these as esps
cially combinations OF corporations,
should be managed under pubhc regula-
ton. Experience has shown that under our
system OF government the necessary
supervision cannot be obtained by state
action. 1t must therefore be achieved by
national action. Our aim Is not to do
away with corporations; on the contrary.
these big aggregations are an inevitable
development Of modern industrialism. and
the effort TO destroy them would be futile
unless accomplished In ways that would
work the utmost mischief to the entire
body polite. We can do nothing OF good
in the way of regulating and supervising
these corporations until we fix clearly in
our minds that we are not attacking the
corporations but cndeavoring to do away
with any evil In them. We are not hostile
TO them: we are merely determined that
they shall be so handled as to subserve
the public good We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth.
The capitalist who, alone or in conjunc-
ton with his fellows, performs some
great Industrial feat by which he wins
provided only he works In proper and
legitimate lines. We wish to favor such
a man when. he does well. We wish to
supervise and control his actions only TO
prevent him from doing III. Publicity
can do no harm to the honest corpora
ton; and we need not be ovcrtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation
Must Exercise Care.
In curbing and regulating the combna-
lions Of capital which are or may become
Injurious TO the public we must be careful
have legitlmateiy reduced the cost OF pro.
duction, not to abandon. the place which
our country has won In the leadership Of
strike down wealth with the result OF clos
ing factories and mines, OF turning the
wage worker idle IN the streets and leav.
Ing the farmer without market Tor VIVA
he grows Insistence upon the Impossible
means delay In achieving the possible ex.
ty Sp The other sa RSos ,s and wSst
sad in the existing system. the resolute ef
fort to obstruct any attempt a bettermeht
oe,rays blindness to the historic truth ina
revolution.
No more important subject can come be
fore the congress than this Of the regula
ton Of Interstate business. This country
cannot AFFORD to sit suplne on the plea thai
under our peculiar system OF government
we are helpless in the presence OF the new
conditions 6 nd unable TO grapple with then
Or to cut out whatever Of evil has arisen II
connection with them. The power OF the
congress to regulate interstate commerce.
Is an absolute and unqualified grant. ard
without limitations other than those pre-
scribe6 by the constitution, The congress
has constitutional authority to make al
this power, and I am satisfied that this
power has not been exhausted by any leg
station now on the statute books. IL II
~ 'snt. therefore. .hat evils restrictive oil