Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-12-12

President Rosevelt's message to the
second session of the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress is substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House of RepreSer-
tGtiveS:
the amount of substantial achievement
which has marked the past year both as
regards our foreign and as regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with a 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 in the direction of pro-
viding for the exercise OF supervision
over the great corporations and combina-
lions OF corporations engaged in inter
state commerce. The Congress has ere
ated the Department of Commerce and
Labor. including the Bureau of Corpora
lions. with for the first time authority to
secure proper publicity OF such proceed
ings OF these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. 1t has pro-
vided for the expediting OF suits for the
enforcement OF the Federal antitrust
law; and by another law IT has secured
equal treatment to all producers in the
transportation OF their goods. thus taking
a long stride forward in making effective
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 Hereunder, marks a real
advance in the direction OF doing all that
is possible for the solution of the questions
vitality Affecting capitalists and wage
workers.
Functions of New Department.
The preliminary work Of the Bureau
OF Corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom OF it's creation. Pub
licity In corporate affairs will tend to do
away with ignorance, and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves-
tigation is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to a 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 its
business recognize their obligation to deal
E-uarely with their stockholders, their
competitors. and the public, has nothing
to fear from such supervision The pur-
pose OF this bureau is not to embarrass
or assail legitimate business, but to aid
in bringing about better industrial con-
dition-a condition under which there
shall be obedience to law and recognition
OF public obligation by all corporations.
great or small. The Department of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information regarding
the business transactions Of the nation
but the executive arm OF the government
TO ala strengthening our OOrneSIlc anu
foreign markets, in perfecting our trans
| portation facilities, in building up our
| merchant marine in preventing the en-
| trance OF undesirable immigrants. in inn
| proving commercial and Industrial condi-
| ticnS. and In bringing together on com
mon ground those necessary partners in
| Industrial progreSs-capital and labor
| Commerce between the nations is stead
| lily growing in volume. and the tendency
| of the times is toward closer trade rela-
! n UatchfulnRSS needed
| to secure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage in foreign
| trade and we may confidently expect
| that the new department will justify the
| expectation OF its creators by the exer-
| else of this watchfune-s, we'll as by
the businessliloe administration of such
| laws relating to our internal affairs as
are intrusted to its care.
| In enacting the laws above enumerated
| the Congress proceeded on sane and con-
sentative dimes. Nothing revolutionary
| was attempted; but common-senSe and
/ successful effort made in the direc-
| ton OF seeing that corporations are so
| handled as to Subserve the public good.
| The legislation was moderate. 1t was
| characterized throughout by the idea that
| we were not attacking corporations. but
| endeavoring to provide for doing away
! with any evil in them: that we drew the
| line against misconduct, not against
| wealth; gladly recognizing the great good
done by capitalists who alone. or in
| conjunction with his fellows. does his
| work along proper and legitimate lines.
/ The purpose of the iegiSla tion which pur-
pose will undoubtedly be fulfilled. was to
| favor such man when he does well. and
| to supervise his action only TO prevent
| him from doing i'll. Publicity can do no
| harm 10 the honest corporation. Thc
! only corpora ton that has cause 10 dread
| IL is the corporation which shrinkS from
| the light. and about the welfare of such
corporations we need not be oversensitive.
The work of the Department of Com
| r,erce and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory, of securing fair treat
ment alike for labor and for capital
Capital and Labor.
| The consistent policy of the national
| government. so far as IL has the power.
| is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man.
| whether employer or employee; but to re-
! to hamper or cramp the industrial devei-
| opment of the country. We recognize
| that this is an era of freedom and com
bination, in which great capitalistic cor
| porations and labor unions have become
! factors OF tremendous Importance in all
| industrial centers. Hearty recognition is
| given the far-reaching. beneficent work
| which has been accomplished through
| both corporations and unions. and the
line as between different corporations
| as between different unions is drawn as
! 1t is between different individuals; thai
| is. 1t is drawn on conduct. the effort be-
/ ing 10 DOIn organized capital anC
organized labor alike; asking nothing
save the interest of each shall be brought
! into harmony with the interest OF the
| general public, and that the conduct Of
each shall conform to the Fundamental
rules OF obedience to law. of individual
freedom. and OF justice and fair dealing
towards all. Whenever either corpora,
ton. labor union. or individual disre
ga-cs the law or acts in a spirit of arbi.
trary and tyrannous interference with
the rights OF others. whether corpora
tions or individuals. then where the
Federal Government has jurisdiction. Il
| win see TO 1T that the misconduct i.
| stopped. paying not the slightest heed L
the position power of the corporation
the union or the individual. but only L
| one vital fact-that IS. the question wheth
| er not the conduct of the individual
| or aggregate OF individuals Is in &C
| cordance with the law of the land Ever,
! man must be guaranteed his liberty ant
his right to do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor, so long as he does no