The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-02
THE TRUST AGAIN
The President Makes Answer to
Some Criticisms of His
Former Views.
The Trusts Ought Not to Be De.
stroyed, but the Evil in
Them Should Be.

Fitchburg, Mass, Sept. 1.-The first i'm
portant stop Of President Roosevelt after
he had resumed his travels through Mas
sachusetts to-day was at this city where
he found the people keeping a general
holiday. The president delivered an adj
dress.
The president had a restful night at
Northfeld. He took his train promptly
at $50. The first speech of the day was
at Miller's Falls where crowd had gath
cred. At Athol and Gardner speeches also
were made. At the latter place fully TO-
900 greeted him. At all the stops the presi-
dent spoke upon the necessity for good
citizenship. In his address at Fitchburg
he devoted himself almost exclusively to
| the trusts, which he intended as an an
Swer to critics. He said in part: T.
III some of those who have seen cause
for wonder in what have said this fall on
the subject Of great corporations which
are popularity, although with technical in
accuracy, known as trusts, would take the
governor. what said on the stump two
years ago, and what put into my first
message to congress, I think they would
have been less astonished. I said nothing
on the stump that did not think 1 could
make good and I shall not hest
tate now to take the position
which I then advocated. an
!
what I say, should think Of it than that
you should applaud it. I am not going tc
| try to define with technical accuracy what
ought to be meant when we speak Of a
trust. But If by trust we mean merely a
] big corporation, then ask you to ponde,
the. utter. folly Of the man who either in a
spirit OF rancor or In a spirit of folly says
Destroy the trusts, without giving you az
idea Of what he means really to do.
will go with him If he says destroy the evi
IN the trusts, gladly. (Applause.)
II will try to find out that evil. I will
seek to apply remedies which I have al
ready outlined in other speeches. But i
his policy from whatever motive, whethe
hatred, fear, panic or just sheer ignorance
is to destroy the trusts in a way that will
destroy all our prosperity, no. Those mel
who advocate wild and foolish remedies
which would be worse than the diseas,
are doing all In their power to perpetual,
the evil against which they nominally war
because if we are brought face to fac
with the naked issue of either keeping O
totally destroying a prosperity in whicl
the majority share, but in which som
share Improperly, why, as sensible men
we must decide that it Is a great deal bet
ter that some people should prosper t.
much than that no one should prospe
enough. So that the man who advocate
destroying the trusts by measures whicl
} would paralyze the industries of the coun
try Is at best a quack and at worst a,
enemy to the republic
Referring to the conditions which exist
| ed In 1893, the president said:
There was no trouble about anybod
making too much money then. The trust
3 were down, but the trouble was that W
r were all Of us down. Nothing but harr
, to the whole body polite can come fror
ignorant agitation, carried on PARTIAL