The Van Buren press., 1902-12-06
THE TRUSTS.
They Can De Controlled only by M
tIOuul Action,

In my message to the present congress
ut it's first session discussed at length
the question OF the regulation OF those
big corporations commonly doing an In
doncy to monopoly. which are popularly
known as trusts. The experience OF the
past year has emphasized, In my opn-
lon, the desiraeili,y OF ,he steps ! then
soclal efficiency is high standard OF
Individual energy and excellence; but
this Is In no wise !ncorsls tent with pow
er to act IN combination for aims which
cannot so well be achieved by the indi-
vidual acting alone. A fundamental base
Of civilization is the inviolab!lty Of prop
erty: but this Is In no wise inconsistent
with the right OF socieiy TO regulate TIE
exercise OF the artificial powers which 1t
ronfers upon the owners OF property, un-
der the name OF corporate franchises, In
Wch way as to prevent the misuse
uf these powers Corporatio and espe-
eally combinations OF corporation
phould be managed under public regula-
hon Experience has shown that under our
system OF government the necessary
supervision cannot be obtained by state
seton 1t must therefore be achieved 10y
national action. our aim is not to do
away with corpora tlons, on the contrary,
these big aggregations are an inevitable
development of modern industrialism, and
the effort to destroy them would be futile
anless 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
bur minds that we are not attacking the
corporations, but endeayoring to do away
with any evil In them We are not hostile
70 them we are merely determined thnt
the public good. We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth
The capitalist who, alone or in conJunc-
ton with his follows, performs some
Lad al
money Is n. weldoer not wronedoer
provided only he works In proper and
legitimate lines, We wish to favor such
man when he does we we'L o,G. we w,Sh Y,n TO TO
prevent him from doing ill Publicity
cen do no harm TO the honest corpora
tlon, and we need not he ovcrtCndcr
about sparlng the dishonest corporation
Must Exercise Care,
In curblng and regulating the eomhln0.
Nons OF capital which are or may become
Injurious TO the public we must be careful
not to stop the great enterprises which
have lcgtimately reduced the cost OF pro-
cuctlon, not to abandon the place which
our country has won IN the leadership Of
the international Industrial world, not TO
strike down wealth with the result OF clos
ing factories and mines, OF turning the
Wago.workor idle IN the streets aud lcgv,
ing the farmer without market for what
he grows. lnslstopeo upon the impossible
means Gclay IN achieving the possible, ck.
defetso alike Of what II good and what u
bad IN the existing system, tie fesoute et.
fort to obstruc, any attempt Hl boOotmcht,
belyays bllrGpess TO the historic truth that
sxisetvolution N the sure safeguard against
J yevolutlon
mo more important subject can come be.
fore the congress than thls o. the rcgula.
ton OF Interstate business This country
cannot AFFORD 70 SIT suplne OF. the plea that
under our peculiar system Of government
Ne are helpless IN ne presence ol Re new
conditions, and unable TO gNpple WITH them
or 10 ept out whatsyel otasyil has arisen IN
connection with thorn, The power Of the
eoGgrtss 70 regulate n,ertalq commerce
ts an absolute and unYuallqcd' and
wSg! aiSss NJ msSns va GnGg A9 ,G9S prS
h0t constitutional authority 10 make oil
laws necessary and proper for executing
this power, and | am satisfied that ihis
iasiion now on he Statute books II IL
pylGtut, therefore, that evils restrictive OF
commercial freedom enlalllng restraint
rpon national commerce fall within the
q wito Nud reasonable law would be Htcess
sary and proper exercise Of congregational
authority 10 lhe end that such tVlls should
! believe that mohopolies unjust tis-
rtlmlhAtlohs, which prevent or cripple
eomrell lltloh, fraudulent overcapltal allzatlon,
end other evils In trust organizations and
trncicea which injurously affect inter.
matc trade can be prevented under the pow.
Or o. the congress 10 regulate commerce
sIth foreign nations and qmong the ,scv'
sfsi states through regulations and ro.
orir mon,a operating directly upon such
commerce, The lnstrumenialllos thereof,
Ard those engaged therein,
! earnestly recommend this subject 10 he
trrtlicrntoh OF the congress With q view
~ TIE passage Of d law reasonable IN Its
provisions and effective In IT. operations,
nnon which the questions can be nnallv
Nv ateestlly Of constitutional amendment,