The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1902-12-06
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President ROosevelt's commupica-
tiOn to Congress.
ne Gives the Greatest Attention IN
the subjects of the Trusts ana the
TaTim-Many Recomme ndatIonu
Along Various Lines.

Eresluent Roosevelt's second ANNA,
neSsase 70 the Fifty-seventh congress- 4
1uuSuaIly prlef Tor an annual presidential
message, The trusts and the tarifY arc ,hs
Two subjects to which the greatest alien
uoh IS given. or the trusts the prtsldent
says In part:
an my message to the present congress
az us hrst session l discussed at length
she question OF the regulation Of those
pis corporations commonly doing an in
e,state business, often with some ten
Snny 10 monopoly. which are popularity
past year has emphasized, In my opIn-
ION. the desirabillty of the steps I then
proposed fundamental requisite NJ
soSiai einclency Is a high standard of
ihulVluual energy and excellence: but
this Is In no wise inconsistent with now
er to act In combination for aims which
cannot so well be achieved by the indi-
Vidual acting alone. A fundamental base
OF elVlilzation is the inviolabllIty of prop.
cry; put this is in TO wise inconsistent
win the right OF society to regulate the
exercise OF the artificial powers which It
corners upon the owners of property, I'M
oer the name OF corporate franchises, in
such way as to prevent the misuse
cialiy combinations of corporations.
should be managed under public regula-
tlon' Experience has shown thatunder our
system or government the necessary
supervision cannot 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.
tnese big aggregations are an inevita BILE
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
pody 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
they shall be so handled as to subserve
the public good. We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth.
The capitalist who. alone or In conjunc-
tion with his fellows, performs some
great Industrial feat by which ne wins
money Is weldoer. not wrongdoer.
provided only he works In proper ana
legitimate lines. We wish to favor such
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
tdon; and we need not be overtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation.
believe that monopohes. unjust
determinations. which prevent or cripple
competition, fraudulent capitalization,
and other evils In trust organizations and
practices which injuriousy affect inter-
state trade can be prevented under the pow
er Of the congress to regulate commerce
with foreign atlons ana among the sew
eral states' through regulations and re-
quirements operating directly upon such
commerce. the instrumentalities thereof,
and those engaged therein.
Il earnestly recommend this subject to
the consideration Of the congress with q
view to the passa ge of law reasonable In
Its provisions and effective in its opera
lions, upon which the questions can be
finally adjudicated that now raise doubts
as to the necessity of constitutional amend
ment. II It prove impossible to accomplish
the purposes above set forth by such law.
then, assuredly, we should not shrink from
amending the constitution so as to secure
beyond pera6venture the power sought"
On the subject of the tariff the president
says 1t has been advocated that the pre-
Vailing duties be reduced as a means of
reaching the evils of the trust problem. but
OF this he says:
"" Not merely would this be wholly
ineffective, but the diversion of our effores
in such direction would mean the aban-
Comment of all intelligent attempt to do
away with these evils. Many of the largest
many Of those which should
certainly be included In any proper scheme
of regulation, would not be affected in the
slightest degree by a change in the tariff
save as such change interfered with the
general prosperity of the country The
only relation of the tariff to big corpora
lions as whole is that the tariff makes
profitable, and the tariff
proposed would be In effect simply
to make manufactures Improbable. To
remove the tariff as q punitive measure
directed against trusts would inevitably re-
suit In ruin to the weaker competitors VINO
are struggling against them. Our aim
should be not by unwise tariff changes to
give foreign products the advantage over
Domestic products. but by proper regula-
lion to give domestic competition a feir
chance; and this end cannot be reached by |
any tariff changes which would affect I'M
,aVorably all domestic competitors, good |
Ind bad alike. The question of regulation |
If the trusts stands apart from the ques-
ion of tariff revision"
On the subject of changing the present |
schedules in our tariff system the presi- |
TENT says:
stability Of economic policy must al
rays be the prime economic need Of this
country, This stability should not be fos-
alization. The country has acquiesced in
he wisdom of the protective-tarin princi'
lie, 1t is exceedingly undesirable that this
ystem should be destroyed or that there
hould be violent and radical changes
herein Our past experience shows that
reat prosperity in this country has always
ONE under a protective tariff; and that
he country cannot prosper under ftful tar
e changes at short intervals Moreover.
the tariff laws as whole Work We'll and
[ business has prospered under them ana
prospering, 1t is better to ENQUIRE for
me slight Inconvenience and inequalities
n some schedules then to upset business by
40 quick and too radical changes. 1t 10
,ost earnestly to be wished that We could
-eat the tariff from the standpoint solely
Z our business needs, 1t Is, perhaps, TOO
luch to hope that partisanshlp may De en-
rely excluded from consideration OF the
ubiect, but at least 1t can be mace seconu-
rv 10 the business interests OF the country
that is. to the interests OF our people as
hole. Unquestienably these business m
,rests will best be served # together Wltn
kitty of principle as regards the tariH we
nmbine a system which will permit US
ronn time to time to make the necessary
of the principle to the shiit-
,p national neeOS. we must tame SCI u
Itious care that the reapplication shall be
JADE in such a way that 1t will not amount
, a dislocation of our system, the mere
treat of which mot to speak OF the per-
1rmance) would produce paralysis In the |
usiness energies of the community. me
rst consideration in making these changes
ould. of course, be to preserve the prln-
ME which underlies our whole tarin sys- !
,fmCthat is, the principle of putting Amer,
an business interests at least on IuH
,uality with interests abroad, and OF al
avs allowing a sufficient rate OF Guty 70
ore than cover the difference between the
por cost here and abroad: The well-be-
% of the wage-worker, like the well-pe-
q Of the tiller Of the soil, should be treat
i as an essential in shaping our Wnoie
.onomlc policy. There must never pc any
1anee which will jeopardize the STANDARD
! comfort. the standard of wages OF the
nnnH way in which the. readtuNment
,nght can be reached is by RECIPROCITY
It is greatly 10 be desired that
,ch treaties may be adopted. Tney can
used TO widen our markets ana 70
ive greater field for the activities OF
~ pro3ucers on the one hand, ana on
- ether to secure in practical shape the
wsring Of duties when they are no