Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-09

partment. Letters addressed to the
company are to be returned to the
senders, marked fraudulent, or, in
case the name of the sender cannot
be learned, to the dead letter Office
at Washington.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE presidents
message has been transmitted to con.
gress. Its principal features are us fol-
lows:
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount Of substantial achieve.
ment which has marked the past year
both rs regards our foreign and as re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
With nation as with a man the
most Important things are those Of the
household, and therefore the country
ts especially to be congratulated on
what has been accomplished in the di-
rection of providing for the exercise of
supervision over the great corporations
and combinations of corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce. The
congress has created the department
of commerce and labor, including the
bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper
publicity OF such proceedings of these
great corporations as the public has
the right to know. 1t has provided for
the expediting of suits for the enforce
ment of the federal antitrust law, and
by another law it has secured equal
treatment to all producers in the trans
portation of their goods. thus taking
long stride forward in making effec-
tive the work Of the interstate COM
merce commission.
The preliminary work of the bureau
Of corporations in the department Of
labor has shown the wisdom of its ere
alton. Publicity in corporate affairs
will tend to do away with ignorance
and will afford facts upon which intel-
Aligent action may be taken. Systemat-
inreff.sSnr investigation is already
developing facts the knowledge of
which is essential to a right UNDER
standing of the needs and duties of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organ
lied, whose managers in the conduct
OF its business recognize their obIiga-
ton to deal squarely with their stock
holders, their competitors and the pub
lie, has nothing to fear from such SUI
pervision. The purpose of this bureau
is not to embarrass or assail legitima+i-7
business, but to aid in bringing. auout
a better industrial conditional condi-'
ton under which there shall be obedi-
ence to law and recognition Of public
obligation by all corporations, great or
small. The department of commerce
and labor will be not only the clearing
house for information regarding the
business transactions of tile nation, but
the executive arm of the government
to aid in strengthening our domestic
and foreign markets. in perfecting our
transportation facilities. in building up
our merchant marine, in preventing the
entrance Of undesirable immigrants, in
improving commercial and industrial
conditions and in bringing together on
common ground those necessary part
ners in industrial progress-capit and
labor
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government, SO far as it has the power,
is: to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man, whether employer or employee, but
to refuse to weaken individual initia-
tive or to hamper or cramp the indus.
trial development of the country. We
recognize that this is an era of fedora.
ton and combination. in which great
capitalistic corporations and labor un.
ions 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 cor.
poratiOns and unions. and the line as
between different corporations, as be.
tween different unions, is drawn as II
is between different individuals-tha1
is, 1t is drawn on conduct, the effort
being to treat both organized capital
and organized labor alike, asking moth.
ing save that the interest of each shall
be brought into harmony with the in
terest of the general public and that
the conduct of each shall conform tc
the fundamental rules of obedience tt
law, of individual freedom and of JUS
tice and fair dealing toward all. When
ever either corporation, labor union OF
Individual disregards the law or acts
in spirit Of arbitrary and tyrannous
interference with the rights of others
whether corporations or individuals
then where the federal government has
Jurisdiction it will see to it that tlt
misconduct is stopned, paying not thu
slightest heed to the position or power
Of the corporation, the union or the in
dividual, but only to one vital fact
that is, the question whether or no
the conduct of the individual or aggre
gate of individuals is in accordanc,
with the law of the land. Every maj
must be guaranteed his liberty and hi
right to do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor so long as he doe
not infringe the rights Of others.
Government Receipts and Expend
lures.
From all sources, exclusive of tn,
postal service, the receipts of the gov
eminent for the last fiscal year aggre
gated $500, 30G6T4. The expenditure!
for the same period We're $5OGO99, OO7
the surplus for the fiscal year being
!54,297,6 G7. The Indications are tina
the surplus for the present fiscal veal
will be very small, ii indeed there BIZ
any surplus. From July 10 November
the receipts from customs were. ap