Mexico Missouri message., 1902-12-04
THE TltI SITS.
They Can lie Controlled Only by Nn-
fIOuuI tctInu,

In my message to the present congress
nt It's first session | discussed at length
the question of the regulation OF those
big corporations commonly doing an in
terstatc business, often with some ten
dcncy TO monopoly, which are popularity
known as trusts. The experience of the
past year has emphasized, in my opin-
ion, the desirability OF the steps | then
proposed. fundamental requisite Of
indy ideal energy and eNc"llcnce; but
this H. In no wise inconsistent WIKI pow
or to act in combination for aims which
cannot SO well be achieved by the iudi-
Yidual acting alone. fundamental base
of civilization Is the inviOiability of prop
ertN; but this Is in no wise inconsistent
with the right of society to regulate the
exercise of the artificial powers which II
CnnforS upon the owners of property. I'M
der the name of corporate franchises. In
such way as to prevent the misuse
of these powers. Corporations, and eSpe-
cially combinations OF corporations,
should be managed under public rcgula-
ton. Experience has shown that under our
system OF government the necessary
supervision cannot be obtained by state
action. 1t must therefore he achieved by
national action. our aim Is not to do
away with corporations on the contrary,
these big aSgreGatlonS are an inevitable
development Of modern induslrlal!Sfn, and
the effort tn destroy them would be futile
unless uCCompll shed 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 uuti we fix clearly in
our minds that we are not attack ing the
corporations, but cndcaNOring to do away
with any cVil in them, We are not hostile
10 them. we are merely determined that
they shGil be so handled as to s SUI rye
against misconduct. not against wealth.
The capitalist who, alone or in conjunc-
great Industrial feat by which he wins
money is a wclldOcr not wrongdoer,
provided only he works in proper and
legitimate lines. We wish to favor such
ms whom he does WRll We wish IN
supervise ana control his actions only to
prevent him from doing i'll Publicity
cen do no harm to the honest corpora
tion, and we need not he overtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation.
Must Exercise Care.
s In CurhirE aud regulating the comhIna-
tions of capital which are or may become
not ~ stop the great enterprises which
have lcg,ymltely reduced the cost of pro-
'.urtiou, rot to abnUcou the place which
she International industrial world, not TO
strike down wealth with the result of clos
Ing factories ard mines, of tuning the
Ing the farmer without market for what
he grows lrSstel,Ge upon the .mPQsslhle
acliN a. a. the other hand the stubborn
6ricrse alike of what l. good and what Is
bad IN the ,Nlsl,lE system, tile resolute eff
fort 20 ohstrUot aUy attempt at hcttermt NJ,
brtrays h,rtrc.s to the historic truth that
wise evolution Is the sure safeguard against
No more important subject can come be-
fore the con grcss than this ot Il e rcgula-
ton of Interstate business. Tbs country
cannot affnrG to sit supIgp or the plea that
under our peculiar system of EoyerunIor
We are helpless IN the presence Of the rev
conditions, and unable TO grIpp'o with them
or to cut out whlt,v yer Of rvlI has arisen IN
connection with them. The power Of the
congress to regulate interstate commerce
H. az absolute aud unqualified grant, and
without limitations other tlau those pre-
scrlbcG by the cons t!tut,on. The cons ress
Laws necessary ulj proper for executing
this power, an, | am satisfied that this
power has rot teen ,Nhausted by any leg
evident. therefore. .G2t tyls restrictive OF