Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-10-02


latins the trusts with a view TO minimlz-
ing or abolishng the evils existent in them
is separate and apart from the question of
tariff revision.
you must face the fact that only harm
will come from a proposition to attack the
so-called trusts in vlndiCtive spirit by
measures conceived solely with a desire OF
hurting them, without any regard! az to
whether discrimination should be made be-
tween the good and the evil in them and
without even any regard as to whether the
necessary sequence of the action would be
the hurting Of other interests. The adop-
tion of such a policy would mean tempor-
airy damage TO the trusts. because it would
mean temporary damage to all of our bust
ness interests but the effect would be only
temporary, for exactly as the damage af-
fected all alike, good and bad, so the reac-
ton would affect all alike, good and bad.
Remedy by Legislation.
The necessary supervision and control
in which firmly believe as the only method
of eliminating the real evils of the trust
must come through wisely and cautiously
framed legislation, which shall aim in the
first place to give definite control to some
sovereign over the great corporations, and
which shall be followed, when once this
power has been conferred, by a system CIV
ing to the government the full knowledge
which is the essential for satisfactory ac-
tion. Then, when the knowledge. one of
the essential features of which is proper
publicity, has been gained, what further
steps of any kind are necessary can be
taken with the confidence born of the pos
session of power to deal with the subject,
and of thorough knowledge of what ought
to be and can be done in the matter. We
need additional power; and we need knowl-
edge.
M fOT, NO oE uyln he
economic conditions were so different that
each state could wisely be left to handle
the corporations within its limits as II saw
fit. Nowadays all the numerous corpora
tions which l am considering do what is
really an interstate business, and as the
states have proceeded on very different
lines in regulating them they are often or
ganized in a state in which they do little
or no business and do enormous business In
other states, to the. spirit of whose laws
they may be openly antagonlstic.
For Constit utionn1 Amendment.
'It might be better II all the states could
agree to work along the same lines in deal
ing with these corporations, but there is
not the slightest prospect of such agree
ment Therefore ! personally feel that ulti-
mately the nation will have to assume the
responsibility of regulating these very large
corporations which do an interstate bust
ness. The states must combine to meet the
problem caused by the great combinations
of capital; and the easiest way for the
states to combine Is by action through the
national government.
81 am well aware that the process of con-
stitutional amendment is necessarily
slow one and one into which our people are
reluctant to enter, save for the best of rea-
sons, but l am confident that in this in
stance the reasons exist.
II am also aware that there Will be diff
Guilty in framing an amendment which Will
meet the objects of the case and yet which
will secure the necessary support. The very
fact that there must be delay in securing
the adoption of such an amendment insures
full discussion and calm consideration on
the whole subject and will prevent any IL
considered action.
Room for Deep Discussion.
II have no intention of trying to outline
the proper phraseology of such an amend
ment. for | know 1t must come as matter
of agreement and! discussion. But l firmly
believe that all these obstacles can be met
If only we face them with the detern!na-
tion to overcome them and with the further
determination to overcome them in ways
which shall not 10 damage 10 the country
as whole, which, on the contrary. shall
further our industrial development and
shall help instead of hindering all corpora
tions which work out their success by
means that are just and fair toward all
men
Amendment my belief is that good deal
can be done by law. 1t is difficult to say
exactly how much, because experience has
taught US that in dealing with these sub
jects where the lines dividing the rights and
duties of the state and of the nation are in !
doubt 1t has sometimes been difficult for
congress to forecast the action of the courts
upon It's legislation.
Asks for Supervision.
Such legislation, whether obtainable
now or obtainable only aftera constitutional
amendment, should provide for a reasonable
supervision, the most prominent feature OF
which al first should be publicity; that Is, |
the making public both to the governmental
authorities and to the people at large of the |
essential facts in which the public is con- |
cerned
This would give us exact knowledge of |
many points which are now not only in |
doubt, but the subject of fierce controversy |
Moreover. the mere fact of the publication |
would cure some very grave evils, for the !
Hight of day is deterrent to wrongdoing |
1t would doubtless disclose other evils with !
which for the time being we could devise |
no way to grapple. Finally, 1t would dis |
close others that could be grappled with |
and cured by further legislative action.
81 advocate action which the president |
only can advise and which he has no power |
In himself to take. Under our present leg
islative and constitutional limitations the !
national executive can work only between |
narrow lines in the field of action concern
ing great corporations. Between those |
lines I assure you that exact and even
handed justice will be dealt. and is being
dealt to all men, without regard to per-
sons"
The President's Programme