Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-02
TRUST QUESTION.
Line Drawn Against Misconduct
Not Against Wealth.

IN my message TO the present con-
gress at its first session discussed ~
length the question OF the regulation Oh
those biz corporations common doihs
en- interstate business, often with some
tendency to monopoly, which are pop
ularly known as trusts The expert
cnce of the past year has emphasi2ea'
In my opinion, the desirapillty OK the
steps | then proposed A fundamental
reouisite of social efficiency Is hlsh
standard OF individual energy ana ex-
cellence; but this is In no wise neon
sistent with power to act In complna-
ton for aims which cannot so wen DE
achieved by the individual acting alone
fundamental base OF civilization IS
the inviolability of property but ms
is In no wise inconsistent with the
right Of society TO regulate the exercise
of the artificial powers which II conters
upon the owners OF property, under the
name Of corporate franchises, In such
a way as to prevent the misuse OF these
powers
CONTROL BY THE NATION.
Corporations. and especially combln-
atoms of corporations, should be man
aged under public regulation. Expert
ence has shown that under our system
OF government the necessary supervl-
sion cannot be obtained by state ac-
tlon. IT must therefore be achieved by
national action. Our aim is not TO do
away with corporations on the con-
trary. these big aggregations are an IN
evitable development OF modern lhuus-
trialIsm. and the effort TO destroy them
would be futile unless accomplished in
WAYS that would work the utmost mis-
chief TO the entire body polite. We can
40 nothing of good in the way OF regu
latlng and supervising these corpora
tions until we fix clearly In our minds
that we are not attacking the corpora
,ions. but endeaVoring to do away WIN
any evil in them We are not hostile
10 them, we are merely determined mat
thew shall be so handled as 10 subserVe
The public good We draw the line
against misconduct, not against wealth.
CAPITALIST A WELL DoER.
The capitalist who, alone or In con-
function with his fellows, performs
some great industrial feat by which ne
wins money is well doer, not wrong
doer. provided only he works IN proper
and legitimate lines. We wish to favor
sioh a man when he does we'll we
wish 10 supervise and control his ac-
lions only to prevent him from doing
I'M. Publicity can do no harm to the
honest corporation; and we need not be
oyertender about sparing the dishonest
| corporation.
CAUTION IN CURLING CAPITAL
In curbing and regulating the COM
hinations OF capital which are or may
become Injurious TO the public we must
| be careful not TO stop the great enter
prises which have legitimateiy reduced
the cost OF production 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 closing fac
tories and mines, Of turning the wage
| worker idle In the streets ana
leaving the farmer without
| market for what he grows
Inslstence upon the impossible
means delay In achieving the possible
exactly as, on the other hand the STUB;
| horn defense alike Of what Is good and
| what Is had in the existing system the
resolute effort 10 obstruct any attempt
| at betterment, betrays blindness to the
. historic truth that wise evolution u
the sure safeguard against revolution