Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-09-24

come as a matter of agreement and
discussion. But | sincerely believe
that all these obstacles can be met, IL
only we face them, both with the de-
termination 10 overcome them. and
with the further determination TO
not do damage TO the country as
whole. which on the contrary shall
further our industrial development
and shall help instead of hindering
all corporal .ons which work out their
success by means that are just and
fair toward all men.
Without the adoption of consti.
tutional amendment my belief is that
a good deal can be done by law. 1t is
difficult to say exactly how much. be
cause experience has taught us that
in dealing with this. and just where
the lines dividing the rights and du.
ties OF the state and of the nation are
in doubt II has sometimes been diff.
cult for congress TO forecast the &C
ton OF the courts upon its legislation
Such legislation (whether obtainable
now or obtainable only after a constl-
tutional amendment) should provide
for reasonable supervision. the most
prominent feature OF which at first
should De publicity: that is. the max
ing public, both TO the governmental
authorities and to the people at large.
the essential facts in which the pub
lie is concerned. This would give us
exact knowledge of many points
which are now not only in doubt, but
the subject OF fierce controversy
Moreover. the mere fact of the publ
cation would cure some very grave
evils. for the light of day is a deter
rent to wrongdo.ng. 1t would doubt
less disclose other evils with which
for the time being We could devise no
way to grapple. Finally it would dis
close others which could be grappled
with and cured by further legislative
action.
Il advocate action which the presi-
dent only can advise, and which he
has no power in himself to take. I'm
der our present legislative and con
stitutional limitations the national
executive can work only between mar
row lines in the field of action con
corning great corporations. Between
those lines / assure you that exact
and even-handed justice will be dealt,
and is being dealt to all men. without
regard TO persons.
'sELF-RESTRAINT NECESSARY
Il wish to repeat with all emphasis
that desirable though it is that the
nation should have the power l sug
gest. it is equally desirable that it
should be used with wisdom and self
restraint. The mechanism of modern
business is tremendous in its size and
compleXity. 9Id ignorant informed
ding with it would be disastrous. We
should not be made timid or daunted
by the size of the problem; we should
not fear to undertake it, but we
should undertake Il with ever present
in our minds dread of the sinister
spirits OF rancor, ignorance and van
ity.
we need to keep steadily in mind
the fact that besides the tangible
property in each corporation there
lies behind the spirit which brings II
success, and in the case of each very
successful corporation this is usually
the spirit of some one man or set OF
men. Under exactly similar condl
lions one corporation Will make stu
pendOus success where another make
a stupendous failure, simply because
one is well managed and the other is
not. While making it clear that we
do not intend to allow wrongdoing
by one of the captains of industry any
more than by the humblest private
interest in the industrial ranks, we
must also in the Interests of all of Us
avoid cramping a strength which, IL
benefcially used, will be for the good
of all of US"
IIfMDEn