The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-12-03
PRESIDENTS 5 NESyAGE.

To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives:
We still continue in a period of un-
bounded prosperity. This prosperity is
not the creature OF law, but undoubtedly
the laws under which we work have been
Instrumental in creating the conditions
which made 1t possible, and by unwise leg
Flation II would be easy enough to destroy
l. There will undoubtedly be periods OF
depression The wave will recede, but the
tide viii advance This nation is seated
on continent flauked by two great
oceans. II Is composed of men the de-
scendunts Of pioneers or. In sense. pio-
neCrs themsciyes-of men winnowed out
from among the nations OF the old world
Uy the energy, boldness and love Of ad-
venture found In their own eager hearts.
Such nation 50 placed will Uurely wrest
success from fortune
AS "a people we have played a large part
In the world and we are bent upon max
ing our future even larger than the past.
In particular the events OF the last four
years have definitely decided that for woe
or Tor veal our place hg.st be great among
the nations. We may either Iail greatly
or succeed greatly, but we cannot avoid
the endeayor from which either great
failure or great success must come. Even
II We would We cannot play "a small part
If We should try, all tnat would follow
would Oe that We should play a large part
ignObly ANA shumctgly
But our people, the sons Of the men Of
the civil war. the sons Of the men who
had iron In their blood rejoice IN the
present and face the future high OF heart
and resolutc Cf viii. ours Is not the
creed OF the Wsa!..ing and the coward; /;
ours is the gospel OF hope and OF ul-
umphunt oudcaNur. We do not shrink
from the struggle before us. There are
many problems for Us to face at the out
set OF the twentieth century grave prop
lem8 abroad and sun graver at home-but
We know that We can solve them, ana
solve them we'll provided only thut We
bring to the solution the qualities OF head
and heart WI gh were shown by the men
who Ia the days Of Washington founded
this government and in the days OF Lin
coin preserved It,
No country has ever occupied a higher
plane OF material well being than ours at
the present moment, This well being is
due TO no sudden or accidental causes, but
to the play OF the economic forces in this
country for over century, TO our laws,
our sustained and continuous policies,
above ALL to the high individual average
OF our citizenship. Great fortunes have
been won by those who have taken the
lead IN this phenomenal industrial deNel-
upment and most of these fortunes have
been won not by doing evil, but as an In
Cidtnt to action which has benefited the
as a whole. Never before has
material well being been SO widely dit-
FUSED among our people. Great fortunes
aggregate these fortunes are small In
deed when compared to the wealth OF the
people as a whole. The plain people are
better on than they have ever been be-
are practically mutual benefit societies
especially helpful to men Of moderate
acCumulatiuns OF capl-
tai which are among the largest In this
"a lnnuglfg
savings banks, more owners OF farms,
more well paid wagewurkers in THIS cOun-
try now than ever before IN our history.
OF course when the conditions have IA
good they have also favored somewhat
the growth OF what was evil. II is emf
ncntly necessary that we should endeavor
TO cut out this evil. but let US keep due
our gaze upon the lesser evil forget the
greater good. The evils are real and
some Of them are menucing, but they are
the outgrowth not Of misery or dccadence,
but OF prosperity, Of the progress of our
gigantic industrial development. This in
dustrial development must not be checked,
but side by side with II should SO such
progressive regulation as viii diminish
the evils. We should fail in our duty II
we did not Try 10 remedy the evils, but we
shall succeed only II We proceed patient
ly. with practical common sense as well
as resolution. separating the good from
the bad and holding ON to the former
while ondedyoring to get rid Of the latter.
In my message TO the present congress
lt its first session | discussed at length
the question Of the regulation Of those
big corporations commonly doing an in
terstate business often with some tenden-
cy to monopoly, which are popularity
known as trusts. The experience Of the
past year has cmpha sized. in my opinion,
The dosirnbility OF the steps | then pro
posed. A fundamental requisite OF social
IL. g fFa.1
energy and excellence, but this is in no
wise inconsistent with power TO act in
for aims which cannot so
we'll be achieved by the individual acting
llone a fundamental base Of civilization
$ the invio'ability OF property; but this Is
n nowisc inconsistent with the right OF
society To regulate the exercise OF the
Irtificial powers which IL Confers upon the
,wners of property under the name OF cor
,orate franchises in such way as TO
prevent the misuse Of these powers. Cor
,orations and especially combinations OF
should be managed under
,ublic regulation. Experience has shown !
hat under our system Of government the |
Necessary supervision cannot be obtained |
" state action II must therefore be
chieyod by national action. Our aim Is
Iot to do away with corporations. on the |
ontrary, these big agsregations are an |
Inevitable development Of modern indus |
rialism. and the effort to destroy them |
yould be futile unless accomplished IN |
rays that would work the utmost mis- |
hief to the entire body polite. We can |
o nothing Of good in the way Of regulat-
lg and supervising these corporations |
ntil We fix clearly In our minds that we |
re not attacking the corporations, but
TO do away with any evil in
hem. We are not hostile to them. We
re merely determined that they shall be
D handled as to subserve the public good.
te draw the line against misconduct, not
gainst wealth. The capitalist who alone
r in conjunction with his fellows, per-
,rms some great Industrial feat by which
@ wins money IS a welldoer not a wrong
DER provided only he works In proper
nd legitimate lines. We wish to favor
ich a man when he does well. We wish
supervise and control his actions only
prevent him from doing i'll. Publicity
IN do no harm to the honest corporation,
nd we need not be overtender about
,aring the dishonest corporation.
In curbing and regulating the combina-
ons Of capital which are or may become
furious TO the public We must be care
Il not 10 stop the great enterprises which
ave legitimatcly reduced the cost OF pro-
lction. not to abandon the place which
mr. country has won In the leadership Of
,e international Industrial world. not to
rike down wealth with the result OF
osirg factories and mines, Of turning |
lt WdEHWOFhtT lult III Alt 0Al'NAo anu ]
aving the farmer without a market for
hat he grows lnsistenCc upon the i'm
lssible means delay in achieving the pos
BILE exactly as, on the other hand the
Unborn defense alike Of what Is good !
nj what is bad I'm the existing system.
,c resolute effort to ObstruCt any at !
mpt at betterment. betrays blindness TO
10 historic truth that wise evolution is
le sure safeguard against revolution.
No more important subject can come
,fore the congress than this II the regu-
tion Of interstate business. This country
lnnot afford 70 sit supine ON the plea
nat under our peculiar system Of govern
ent we are helpless I'm the presence Of
le new conditions and unable to grapple !
ith them or to cut out whatever Of eyil
ls arisen in connection with them. The
over Of the congress to regulate inter-
ate commerce Is an absolute and un-
lalifiod grant and without limitations
.hor than those prescribed by the consu-
ition. The congress has constitutional !
uthority 20 make an laws necessary and
roper Tor executing this power. and am
itisficd that this power has not been eN-