The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-05
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
the question of the regulation of those
big corporations commonly doing an in
terstate business, often with some ten
dency to monopoly, which are popularity
known as trusts. The experience of the
ion, the desirability of the steps l then
proposed. A fundamental requisite of
social efficiency is high standard of
individual energy and excellence; but
this IS in no wise inconsistent with pow
er to act in combination for aims which
cannot SO we'll be achieved by the indi-
vidual acting alone. A fundamental base
of civilization is the inviolablity 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, un-
der the name of corporate franchises, in
such Il way as to prevent the misuse
cially combinations of corporations,
should be managed under public regula-
ton. Experience has shown that under our
system of government the necessary
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
development of Ihodern 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 attacking the
corporations, but endeavOring to do away
with any evil in them. We are not hostile
to them; we are merely determined that
the public good. We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth
The capitalist who, alone or in conjunc-
ton with his fellows, performs some
great industrial feat by which he wins
money is a welldoer not a wrongdoer
provided only he works in proper and
a.. W. Oh, -.
a man when he does we'll. We wish to
supervise and control his actions only to
prevent him from doing ILL Publicity
can do no harm to the honest corpora
ton; and we need not be overtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation.
Must Exercise Care.
In curbing and regulating the combina-
lions of capital which are or may become
injurious to the public we must be careful
not to stop the great enterprises which
have legitimately reduced the cost of pro-
Guction, 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
ing factories and mines, of turning the
wage-worker idle in the streets and leav-
ing the farmer without a 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 at betterment
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 government
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
congress to regulate interstate commerce
is ar absolute and unqualified grant and
without limitations other than those pre-
scribeG by the constitution The congress
has constitutional authority to make all
laws necessary and proper for executing
this power, and 1 am satisfied that this
islation now on the statute books. 1t is
evident. therefore. that evils restrictive of