The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-24
STATE MUST CONTROL
CORPORATIONS
Nation Must Control.
Continued from Page one.)

I'm my judgment, this sovereign must
be the national government. When 1t has
been given full power, then this full
power can be used to control any evil in
fiuence exactly as the government is
now using the power conferred upon 1t
under the Sherman antitrust law.
Even when the full power has been
conferred. it will be highly undesirable
to attempt too much, or to begin by strin-
gent legislation. The mechanism of mod
ern business is as delicate and complica-
ted, as 1t Is vast, and nothing would be
more productive Of evil to all of us and
especially to those least well of in the
worlds goods, than ignorant meddfng
with their mechanism and above all, II
the meddling were done in a spirit Of
class or sectional rancor.
1T is desirable that this power should
be possessed by the nation, but 1t is quite
as desirable that the power should be ex-
ercised with moderation and self-re-
straint The first exercise of that power
should be the securing of publicity among
all great corporations doing an inter-
state business. The publicity, though
non-inquisitorial, should be real and
thorough as all important facts with
which the public has concern"
The Mastery of Light.
: THE full light of day is a great dis
courager of evil. Such publicity would,
by itself, tend to cure the evils of which
there is just complaint, and where the al
legged evils are imaginary it would tend
to show that such was the case. When
publicity Is attained, 1t would then be
possible to see what further should be
done in the way of regulation.
Above all, 1t behooves us to RENE m
Der. not only that we ought to try to do
lint hut ho in
doing it depends very much upon our
neither attempting nor executing the i'm
possible
Always distrust a man who offers you
a patent cure all for the evils of the body
polite, just as you would distrust a man
who offers you q patent cure for all the
evils of the carnate body.
Mankind has moved slowly upward
through the ages, some times a little
faster. some times a little slower, but
rarely indeed by leaps and bounds. At
times a great crisis comes in which
great people. perchance led by a great
man, can, at white heat, strike some
mighty blow for the right. make some
long stride In advance along the path of
orderly liberty and Justice. But normal
~, we must be content II each of us can
do something, by no means all that we
wish. but still something for the advance
ment of those principles of Righteousness
which will underlie all real national
greatness and real civilization.
Suggests Common Sense.
II see no promise of a complete solu-
ton for all the problems we group to-
sether. when we speak of the trust ques-
ton. But we can make a beginning in
solving these problems and a good be-
ginning, If only we approach the subject
with sufficiency OF resolution, of hon
esty and of that hard common sense
which Is one of the most valuable and
unfortunately. not one of the most COM
mon. assets in the equipment OF any peo-
pie.
Il think the national administration
has shown it's firm intention to enforce
the laws as they now stand on the statute
books without regard to persons, and l
think that good has come from this en-
forcement.
II think Furthermore that additional
legislation should be had and can be had
which will enable us to accomplish the
object along these same lines. No one can
promise you a perfect solution at least
in the immediate future. Much already
has been done and more can be done If
your people determinedly will that ii shall
be done. :
Where Responsibility Rests.
in conclusion let me add one word:
While we are not to be excused If we
fail to do whatever is possible, through
the agency of government, we must ever
keep in mind that no action by the gov
ernment no action by any combination
among ourselves can take the place of
individual qualities to which in the long
run each man must owe his success 1t
has never been devised any law which
will enable a man to succeed save by the
exercise of those qualities which always
have been the prerequisites of success
the qualities of hard work, of keen in
tellgent of unfinching will. No action
by the State in any form can de more
than supplement the initiative of the in
diWdual or ordinarily the action of the
State can do no more than secure to
each individual the chance to show,
under as favorable conditions as possible
the stun of which he is made