Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-12-02

by side with it should go such progressive
regulation as will diminish the evils. We
should fail in our duty II we did not try
to remedy the evils, but we shall succeed
only IL we proceed patiently, with prac-
tical common sense as well as resolution,
separating the good from the bad and
holding on the former while endeavoring
to get rid of the latter.
About the Trusts.
In my message to the present congress
at its first session / discussed at length
the question of the regulation of those
big corporations commonly doing an in
terstate business, often with some tend
ency to monopoly. which are popularity
known as trusts. The experience of the
past year has emphasize. In my opinion,
the desirability of the steps then pro-
posed. fundamental requisite of social
efficiency is high standard of individual
energy and excellence; but this is in no
wise inconsistent with power to act in
combination for aims which can not so
well be achieved by the individual act
Ing alone. A fundamental base of civili-
cation is the inviolability of property
but this is in no wise inconsistent with
the right of society to regulate the exer-
else of the artificial powers which II con-
fers upon the owners of property, under
the name of corporate franchises in such
a way as to prevent the misuse of these
powers Corporations, and especially
combinations of corporations should be
managed under public regulation, Ex-
perience has shown under our system of
government the necessary supervision
can not be obtained by state action. 1t
must therefore be achieved by national
action. Our aim is not to do away with
corporations; on the contrary, these big
aggregations are an inevitable develop
ment of modern industrialism, and the
effort to destroy them would be futile
unless accompanied 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 attacking the
corporations, but endeavoring to do away
with any evil in them. We are not hos
tile to them; we are merely determined
that they shall be so handled as to sub
serve the public good. We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth.
The capitalist who, alone or in conjunc-
great industrial feat by which he wins
money Is a well-doer not a wrong -doer,
provided only he works In proper and
legitimate lines We wish to favor such a
man when he does well We wish to su-
pervise and control his actions only to
prevent him from doing III. Publicity can
do no harm to the honest corporation; I;
and We need not be overtender about
sparing the dishonest corporation.
In curbing and regulating the COM
binations of capital which are or may be-
come injurious to the public we must be
careful not to stop the great enterprises
which have legitimately reduced the cost
OF production, not too abandon the place
which our country has won I'm the leader
ship Of the international Industrial
world, not to strike down wealth with
the result of closing factories and mines
OF turning the waEe-worker idle in the
streets and leaving the farmer without a
market for what he grows. Insistence
upon the impossible means delay in ac-
heiving the possible exactly as, on the
other hand, the stubborn defense alike Of
what is good and what is bad in the
existing system, the resolute effort to
obstruct any attempt at betterment, be-
trays blindness TO the historic truth that
wise evolution is tho sure safeguard
against revolution.
Regulate interstate Business.
No more important subject can come
before congress than this Of the regula-
tion of interstate business. This country
can not afford to sit supine on the plea
that under our peculiar system of govern
ment We are helpless In the presence of
the new conditions. ami unable to grapple
with them or TO cut out whatever of evil
has arisen in connection with them. The
power of congress 10 regulate interstate
commerce is an absolute and unqualified
grant, and without limitations other
than those prescribed by the constitution.
The congress has constitutional authori-