Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-04
THE TRUSTS.
They Can Be Controlled Only by Ma
tiOnal Action.

In my message to the present congress
at it's first session l discussed at length
big corporations commonly doing an in
tefstate business, often with some ten
dency to monopoly which are popularity
past year has emphasized, in my opin-
ion, the desirability of the steps | then
proposed; Fundamental requisite OF
Individual energy and excellence; but
this is in no wise inconsistent 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 inviolability of prop
erty; but this is in no wise inconsistent
with the right. of society to regulate the
exercise of the artificial powers which it
confers upon the owners of property, I'M
der, the name Of corporate franchises, IN
such a way as to prevent the misuse
of these powers. Corpora tons, and espe-
cially combinations Of corporations,
should be managed under public regula-
ton. Experience has shown that under our
system of government the necessary
supervision cannot be. obtained, by state
national action. Our aim is not to do
away with corporations; on the contrary,
these big aggregations are an inevitable
development of modern industrialism. and
the effort to destroy them would be futile
unless 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
our minds that we are not attaching the
corporations, but endeavoring to do away
with any evil in them. We are not hostile
to them; we are merely determined that
they shall be os SO han3d d as TO Se ne
against misconduct, not against wealth
The capitalist who, alone or in conjunco
ton with his fellows performs IS some some
money is a welldoer, not wrongdoer:
provided only he works in proper and
legitimate lines. We wish to favor such
hQ
SUPERVISE and control his actions only to
prevent him from doing ILL Publicity
ton; and we need not be overtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation.
Must Exercise Care.
In curbing and regulating the combina-
tons CT capital whtGh are or may by cerf
not to stop the great enterprises which
have legitimately reduced the cost of pro-
duction, 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
wage worker idle in the streets and feav-
ing the farmer without market for what
he grows. Insistence upon the Impossible
means delay In achieving the possible, ex-
actly as, on the other hand, the stubborn
defense alike of what is good and what is
bad in the existing system, the resolute eff
fort to obstruct any attempt al betterment,
betrays blindness to the historic truth that
wise evolution is the sure safeguard against
revolution.
No more important subject can come be-
fore the congress than this of the regula-
ton of interstate business. This country
cannot afford to sit supine on the plea that
under our, peculiar system of goEg9 IN en-
we are helpless in the presence OF the new
conditions and unable to grapple with them
or to cut out whatever of evil has arisen in
connection with them. The power of the
is an absolute and unqualified grant, and
without limitations other than those pre-
scribed by the constitution. The congress
laws necessary ana proper for executing
this power and l an. satisfied that this
power has not been exhausted by any leg
islation now on the statute books. 1t is
evident. therefore. that evils restrictivetof