The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-08

President RooseYelt's annual mes
sage was read to both houses of the
Fifty-eighth Congress this afternoon
Al is as follows:
TO the Senate and House Of Represen-
tdtipeS:
The country is to be congratulated on
8ho arnount OF substantial achievement
which has marked the past year both as
regards our foreign and as regards our
domestic policy.
Corporations.
with a nation as with man the most
important things are those OF the house
hold and therefore the country IS espe-
cially to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished Ia the direction Of pro-
Viding for the exercise OF supervision
over the great corporations and com biiia-
tions Of corporations engaged I'm inter-
state commerce. The Congress has Gre
nted the Department Of Commerce and
Labor, including the Bureau OF Corpora
tions, with for the first time authority 70
secure proper publicity Of such proceed
iugs OF these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. II has pro-
yided Tor the eXpediting of suits for the
enforcement OF the Federal antitrust
Jaw; and by another law it has secured
equal treatment 20 an producers in the
transportation OF liltl HouuSr tNNh tAhiuk
a long stride forward iu making elective
the work Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department Of Commerce and Labor.
The establishment Of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor, with the Bureau
Of Corporations thereunder marks real
advance in the direction Of doing ull that
Is possible for the solution of the questions
vitally affecting capitalists aad wage
workers.
Functions Of New Department.
The preliminary work OF the l&Wcau
of Corporations In the department has
shown the wisdom Of its creation. Pub
licity In corporate affairs win tend to do
away with ignorance. and win afford
facts upon whicls intelligent action may
be taXen. Systematic. intelligent iuVes-
tlgatlon IS already developing facts the
knowledge OF which g. essential 20 right
understanding of the needs and duties Of
the business world. The corporation
which Is honestly and fairly organized,
whose managers In the conduct of it's
business recognize their obligation 20 deal
squarely with their stockholders their
- competitors and the public, has uothlns
20 fear from such supervision. The pur-
pose OF this bureau Is n9t TO embarrass
or assai legitimate business. but To aid
in bringing about better industrial cone
diuon-a condition under which there
EllaA ue uNellDAnN 10 law ANN lNtAiN NAlAnll
Of public obligation by an corporations,
great or small The Department of Com
nerce ana Labor VII be not only the
clearing house Tor Information regarding
the business transactions Of the nation
but the executive arm of the governments
10 aid ia strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets. IA periecting our trans
portatlon facilities in building up our
merchant marine. in preventing the en-
trance OF undesir bic immigrants, in inn
proving commercial and Industrial condi 2
tions and in bringing together on COM
mon ground those necessary partners iIi
Industrial progress-capitnl and labor.
Commerce between the nations is stead
iiys growing IN volume. and the tendency
OF the times Is toward closer trade rela-
tons Constant watchfulness s. ngaded
20 secure 70 Americans the chance 20 par
ticipate 20 the best advantage Ia foreign
trade. and we may confidently expect
that the new department will justify the
expectation OF its creators by the exer-
else Of this watchfulneas. as well a. by
the businesslike administration % such
laws relating 20 our internal affairs as
are lntrusted 10 It's care.
IN cnacting the laws above enumerated
The Congress proceeded on sane and con-
servative lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted; but a coulTaon-sense and
successful effort was made in the direc-
tion Of seeing that corporations are 80
handled as 20 scoscrve the public good.
The legislation was moderate. II was
characterized throughout b. the !dea that
We we're not attacking corporations. but
endeayoring 10 provide for doing away
with any evil Ia them: shat We drew the
line against misconduct not against
wealth. gladly recognizing the great good
done By capitalists who alone. cr in
conjunction with HIS fellows, does DIS
work along proper and legitimate lines.
The purpose 81 the legislation. wnich pur-
nose viii undoubtedly be fulfilled. was 40
favor such 3 man when 10 does well. and
70 supervise his action only 10 prevent
him from doing iil Publicity can DO no
harm to the honest corporation. The
only corporation that has cause 10 dread
Il Is the corporation waich ehIinks from
fhs llfht ana aboIt the welfare ~ such