The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-26

be protected from violation n the law
I am inclined 20 think that much the great
est trouble IN any immediate handling OK
the question az trusts comes from our sys-
TEN OF government. Let me 20 back one
moment. I want 20 guard what am saying
| want you 10 understand that my w0rus
are being taken at their exact face value
Remember I am not saying that even IL We
had all the power We could completely solve
the trust question. Gentlemen, II what We
read in the papers is true they are speaking
Of a number OF international trusts now
1T would be very difficult FOR any set OF
laws. on our part TO deai SorIiplsteIg ~ ~ a
problem which becomes international IN IT'S
bearings but a great deal can be done IN
various ways now. A great deal Is being done
and a great deal more can De done N We
can see that the power is put somewhere 10
do IT, on the whole our system OF govern
ment has worked marvelOusly well the
system of dividing the functions OF gov
eminent Of arranging a scheme uneer
which Maine. Louisiana. Oregon loaho-
New York and South Carolina can ali come
in together for certain purposes and yet
each be allowed 10 work its salvation as II
desires along certain lines. But while
most firmly before in nXity or policy, 40
not believe that that policy should be FOSSIL
lied. and il il Is TO be changed we muss
CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED.
".I believe with all my heart in the New
England town meeting. but you cannot
Boston. You have got TO try something
else Now. when this government was
founded there were no great individual or
corporate fortunes. and commerce and In
dustry were being carried on very much
as they had been from the days when Nine
web and Babylon stood in the Mesopotamian
valley. The wagon there and the pack
train and the sailing craft-those were the
methods OF commerce Everything has
been reVolutiOnized in the business world
since. and the progress Of civilization from
being a trickle has become torrent. There
was no particular thing at that time TO
bother as TO whether the Nation or, the
State had control Of the corporations. They
were easy TO control. Now, however, the
exact reverse is the case, and remember
say corporations / do not say merely
trusts. merely combinations OF corporations
or corporations under certain peculiar con-
ditions. For instance, some time ago the
attorney general took action against a Ger
tain trust. There has been considerable
discussion as TO whether the trust aimed at
would not seek 10 get out from under the
law by becoming a single corporation
"Of course. gentleman, no laws amount
to anything unless they are administered
honestly and fearlessly. Then 1 believe.
I am not going to say I am sure OF II, but
/ believe IL is possible 10 frame national
legislation which shall give US more power
than have now, at any rate over cor
pOratiOns doing an interstate business. L
cannot guarantee that, because in the past
il has more than once happened that we
have got laws on the statute books which
those who made them intended TO mean one
thing, and when they came up TO decision it
was found the intention had not been sue
cessfully put into effect. But | believe that
/ additional legislation can be had. / think
we have got To make up our minds 10 the
! fact that no matter what our reverence
TO the past may be. our duty 10 the present
and to the future Will force Us 10 see that
! more power is conferred upon the national
/ administration.
STRAwLESS BRICKS.
when the power has been conferred IL
will rest with the national government to
exercise it. At present we are going to do
| the best we can with strawless bricks. but
/ remember they are bound to be strawless-
| Finally, men and women Of New England.
men and women Of a State that represents
/ so much, that has always represented so
much, that is highest and best in the spirit
| Of true Americanism | ask you 10 re-
/ member that after all has been done that
/ can be done by governmental action; after
/ YOU have exercised your best wisdom and
| exercised IL in the most resOlute and lofty
! spirit; after you have given all the needed
| power 10 the national government, and att
] that power has been exercised i'm the
| wisest and most resolute fashion, IL viii
| still mean that what has been done is not
to make everything smooth for each man.
| but simply to give a better opportunity tor
each man to work out his own future ON
| good terms for himself.
| "Wise laws can do something and arc
not TO be excused IL we fail 10 insist upon
| these wise laws. Honest administration OF
| the laws can do something more. and still
less we TO be excused, as people, N
| we condone or cOnnive at a failure 10 adj
| minister the laws by the public servants
| of the people After those laws have been
! enacted after they have been enforced. IL
| Will remain true, here in this century as IL
! has been true i'm every century throughout
| history, that the fundamental factor in
In 81 he Fhaf
| mans own character the total sum OF
/ the qualities Of truthfulness, earnestness.
! energy, thrift and business ability on his
/ part. The State cannot carry anyone. The
| State cannot do much for you as you
can do for it. Under no circumstances viii
IL be possible by law 10 shape convictions
so that each man shall succeed. II the man
has not got in him the stun out OF which
he can work success the State cannot sup
| ply it, If he fails, 1 am sorry for him. /
VIII help him as far as possible. 1 will lift
him up If he stumbles, but / won't try 20
carry him. for that is neither helping him
nor helping me"