Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-30
ON TRUSTS
President Says He Has Not Discov-
cred a Patent Cure-AIl.
BETTER LAWS ARE NEEDED

Declared First Thing Wanted Is Pub.
licity, Which Would Cure Many
EviIs-Au Antitrust Laws VIII
Be Enforced
Boston, Mass, Aug. 26.-The weeks
work for President Roosevelt in his
trip through New England began In
earnest yesterday afternoon, when he
departed from the summer home Of
the junior senator of Massachusetts,
Hon Henry Cabot Lodge, at Nahant,
and, amid the enthusiasm of the great
est number of people he has faced since
the Pittsburg visit on July T. rode into
Lynn under cavalry escort and spoke
from a platform at City Hall. Then
he was taken to Boston by special
train, and on his arrival went TO Sym
phony Hall, there addressing a great
gathering OF Boston business men. His
speech here was devoted almost en-
tirely to consideration Of the trust
question.
President Roosevelt's speech in part
was as follows:
81 wish to say that have not come
here to say that 1 have discovered a
patent cure-ail for the trusts. II is
worse than useles for any of us 20 rail
at or regret the great growth in indus
trial civilization of the last half CEN
tury. There is but little use in regret
ting that things have not shaped them
selves differently. The practical thing
to do is to face the conditions as they
are and see if we cannot get the best
there is in them out OF them. We are
not going To get any complete or perfect
solution for all OF the evils which come
to our minds when we think OF the
trusts by any single action on our part.
good many actions in a good many
different ways will be required before
we get many OF those evils even par
tally remedied-
Il am inclined to think that much
the greatest trouble in any immediate
handling of the question OF the trust
comes from our system of government.
Remember. am not saying that even
If we had all the power we could COM
pletely solve the trust question. Gem
uemen, II what we Dead in the papers.
is true, they are speaking of a number
OF international trusts now. II would
be very difficult for any sat of laws. on
our part, to deal completely with a
problem which becomes international
in its bearings, but a great deal can
be done in various ways.
Some time ago the attorney general
took action against a certain trust.
There has been considerable discussion
as to whether the trust aimed at would
not seek to get out from under the law
by becoming single corporation. 7
want laws to enable us to deal with It.
no matter what shape 1t takes. want
to see the government able to get at II
differently, so that the action of the
government cannot be evaded by any
turning. within or without federal or
state statutes: At present we have
really no efficient control over a big
corporation which does business in
more than one state.
The first thing we want is pubIicitv
and do not mean publicity as favored
by some corporations. / want the
knowledge given to the accredited Pep-
resentatives OF the people OF facts on.
which those representatives can ~
they see ut, base their actions later
The publicity itself would cure MANY
evils. AS far as the antitrust laws go
they will be enforced No suit win be
undertaken for the sake of seeming to
undertake it. Every suit that is un-
dertaken viii be begun because the
great lawyer and upright man whom
we are so fortunate as to have as at
torney general, Mr.. Knox, believes that
there is violation of the law which
we can get at, and when the suit is
undertaken it won't be compromised
excepting on the basis that the govern
ment wins. OF course, gentlemen, no
laws amount TO anything unless they
are administered honestly and fear
lessly."
This morning bright and early the
presidential party started for Maine.