Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-22
NOT A TRUST CURE.
Removal Of Tariff Will Not
Accomplish Purpose.
The President Urges Control Of Trusts
by Wise Legislation.
important Speech by the Chief Execu
tive at Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, Sept. 21.-The PreSiden-
tial party arrived ut the Pennsylvania.
depot at 10 A. NJ, Saturday, o.:
schedule time and was escorted to the
St. Nicholas hotel by a long line CT
carriages with Senator Foraker, Mayor
Fleischmann, Pres. Frank w. Foulds
and directors of the Cincinnati fall fes-
tival. whose guest the President Is,
and prominent citizens.
The President held an informal re-
ception in the forenoon, with Senator
Foraker introducing the visitors.
The only stop of the special train af
ter leaving Columbus was at Waynes
ville where the President bowed to
the people. Crowds We're out to see
the train at all suburban stations.
Elaborate arrangements had been
made for the President and his parry
here. AT noon he was given Il luncheon
which was attended by many prom
inent men. Pres. Foulds gave the
President a gold badge similar to thos ?
worn by the festival directors. 1t
was accepted in "A short speech ey
pressing thanks.
At p. NJ. a grand military parade.
followed by IA civic procession, escorted
the President and party to the fall fes-
tival, where he was scheduled to speak
at p. NJ. to the business men.
Under a proclamation of Mayor
Fleischmann, business was suspended
for the day. and everything was given
up to the entertainment of the Presi-
dent. The city was full of excursion
lists although the weather was threat
ening.
At o'clock the President spoke i'll
Music hall.
President Roosevelt said:
To-day l wish to speak to you on the
subject. or group of subjects, which We
mean when we talk of the trusts. Tie
word is used very loosely and alm"sr
always with technical inaccuracy.
But the average man when ne
speaks of the trusts means. rather
vaguely, all of the very big corpora
tions, ana especially those big corpora
tons which, though organized IN one
state. do business in several states.
and some of which have tendency 70
monopoly.
This whole subject of the trusts is OF
vital concern to US. because 1t presents
one. and perhaps the most conspicuous
Of the many problems forced upon ou'
attention by the tremendous industrial
development which has taken place
during the last half century, in all
civilized countries. and notably In our
own.
The new conditions have produced
both good and evil. We cannot get ria
of them-even if it were not undeslrahte
tn get rid of them-and our duty is to
trv to accommodate our social. econo-
mic and legislative life to them, and TO
frame system of law and conduct
under which we shall get out of them
the utmost possible benefit and thE
least amount of harm.
whenever great social or indusulai
changes take place. there is sure to pc
some evil. The effort to bring the new
Tendencies 10 a standstill is always fu-
tile and generally mischievous; but 1t
is nossible somewhat to develop th.rn
Alright.
Claw can to Il degree guide, protec.
and control Industrial development but
il can never cause it, or play more imam
q subordinate part in it's healthy ue-
velopment. Unfortunately II IS easy
enough by bad laws TO bring y 70 an
almost complete stop.
"In dealing with the big corporations
wo intend to proceed not by revolution,
but by evolution.
.The evils attendant upon over-capl-
talization alone are. in my Judgment,
sufficient to warrant a far closer super
vision and control than now exists over
the great corporations. Wherever =
substantial monopoly can be shown to
exist. we should certainly try our ut
most to devise an expedient by which 1t
can be controlled.
"Doubtless some of the evils existing
in or because of the great corporations
cannot be cured by any legislation yet
proposed. and doubtless others will, IN
the end. cure themselves.
"Eut others will remain that can be
cured if we only set about curing them
with sanity. The surest way to pre-
vent the possibility of curing any OF
the evils is to approach the subject III
a spirit of violent rancor, complicated
with total ignorance of business con-
ditions.
NO probl I'm can be solved II the
qualities brought by its solution are
panic. fear. envy, hatred and ignorance
And there can exist in free republic
no man more dangerous to the people.
than he who would arouse these feel
ines in the hope that they may rebound
to his own political advantage.
Corporations that are handled nom
estIy and fairly. so far from being an
evil. make for the general prosperity OF
| our land.
I'VE do not wish to destroy corpora
| tjons. We wish to make them subserve
the public good. The biggest corpora
ton. like the humblest private citizen,
must be held to strict compliance with
the will of tie people as expressed IN
| the fundamental law.
! The savings bar ks show what can be
done in the way of genuinely beneficent
work by large corporations when in
lteligently administered and supervised
| There is no talk of danger from
these corporations: yet they possess
great power holding over three times
the amount of our present national
debt The chief reason for there being
no talk of danger from them is thai
they are on the whole faithfully admin
jstered for the benefit Of all
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