The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-17

wasbinston, D. c. President Roose'
velt's message, which was read before the
Senate and House Of Representatives, u, In
part, as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives:
We stili continue in period OF unbound
ed prosperity. This prosperity is not the
creature Of law, but undoubtedly the laws
under which we work have been instru'
mental in creating the conditions which
made it possible, and by unwise legislation
it would be easy enough to destroy 1t.
There will undoubtedly be periods OF de-
preston. The wave win recede, but the
tide will advance. This nation is seated
ON q continent Aanked by two great oceans.
It is composed of men the descendants OF
pioneers, or, in sense, pioneers them.
ss,yes: Of men winnowed out from among
the nations Of the Old World by the en-;
ergy, boldness and love Of adventure found
in their own eager hearts. Such nation,
ID placed, win surely wrest success from
fortune.
But our people, the sons Of the men OF
the Civil War. the sons of the men who
had iron in their blood, rejoice in the pres.
emit and face the future high OF heart and
resolute Of will. Ours is not the creed OF
the weakling and the coward; ours Ii the
rospel of hope and of triumphant endeavor.
We do not shrink from the struggle be-
fore Us. There are many problems TOR Us
to face at the outset OF the twentieth cen,
tury grave problems abroad and still
qraver ut home. but we know that we can
solve them and solve them well, provided
only that we bring TO- the solution the
shown by the men who, in the days OF
Washington, founded this Government,
and, in the days of Lincoln, preserved It.
President Roosevelt then calls attention
20 the great fortunes Of the country,
which, be says, have been won not by
doing evil, but as an incident to action
which has benefited the community as o
whole. In dwelling upon the evils which
have arisen in the course OF our industria!
development he says that the evils are real
and some Of them are menacing, but they
dence but OF our prosperity. This indus.
trial development must not be checked,
but aide by side with it should 60 such
progressive regulation as viii diminish the
TRUSTS.
In my message to the present Congress
at its first session discussed at length the
question Of the regulation Of those big cor.
porations commonly doing an interstate
business. often with some tendency to
monopoly, which are popularity known a.
trusts The experience of the past year
has emphasized, in my opinion, the de'ir.
fundamental requisite Of social efficiency
il Q high standard of individual energy
and excellence. but this 10 in NO wise in.
consistent with power to act in combina-
ton for aims which can not 90 well be
achieved by the individual acting alone. A
fundamental base Of civilization il the in.
volatility Of property, but this is in NO
wise inconsistent with the right OF society
70 regulate the exercise of the artificial
powers which it confers upon the owners
Of property. under the name OF corporate
franchises, IN such way aa to prevent the
and | especially combinations Of corpora.
tions, should be managed under public
regulation. Experience has shown that
under our system Of government the neces.
sefy supervision can not be obtained by
State action. Il must, therefore, be
achieved by national action. Our aim Is
not to do away with corporations; on the
contrary. these big aggregations are an in.
evitable DEVELOPMENT Of modern industrial.
ism. and the effort to destroy them would
would work the utmost mischief TO the
entire body polite. We can do nothing OF
good in the way Of regulating and super.
yisinS these corporations until we fix clear.
" 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 90 handled as to SUBJ
serve the public good. We draw the line
AGAINST misconduct, not against wealth.
The capitalist who. alone or in conjunc.
industrial feat by which he wins money is
o well-doer, not . wrong-doer, provided
only he works in proper and legitimate
lines. We wish to favor such a man when
he does well. We wish tc supervise and
control his actions only to prevent him
from doing i'll. Publicity can do no harm
10 the honest corporation, and we need
not be over.tender about sparing the dis
honest corporation.
No more important subject can come be.
fore the 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.
mcnt 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 inter.
state commerce 10 an absolute and unquali.
fed grant, and without limitations other
than those prescribed BY the Constitution.
The Congress has constitutional authority
TO make all laws necessary and proper for
executing this power, and I am satisfied
that this power has not been exhausted by
arly legislation now on the statute books.
Il is evident. therefore, that evils restrict.
i've OF commercial freedom and entailing
restraint upon national commerce fall
within the regulative power Of the Con-
zress. and that wise and reasonable law
would be necessary and proper exercise
Of Congressional authority to the end that
such evils should be eradicated.
I believe that monopolies, unjust dis.
ordinations. which prevent or cripple
and other evils in trust organizations and
practices which injuriously affect. inter.
state trade can be prevented under the
power OF the Congress to regulate com.
merce with foreign nations and among the
several States" through regulations and
requirements operating directly upon such
commerce. the instrumentalities thereof,
and those engaged therein.
I earnestly recommend this subject TO
view to the passage Of q law reasonable in
its provisions and effective in its opera
tions, upon which the questions can be
finally adjudicated that now raise doubts
as to the necessity Of constitutional amend.
ment. II it proved impossible to accom-
plish the purposes above set forth by such
a law. thea, assurediy. We should not
shrink from amending the Constitution SO
as to secure beyond peradventure the pow.
er sought.
The President then asks that Congress
make special appropriation which will
enable the DEPARTMENT of Justice to secure