Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-12-10

President Rosevelt's message to the
second session of the Fifty-eighth Con,
gress is substantially as follows:
TO the Senate and House of Represen-
tGttyes:
The country Is to be congratulated on
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 cspe-
cially to be congratulated on what has
been accomplished in the direction OF pro-
viding for the exercise of supervision
over the ,grert corporations and combina-
tions of corporations engaged in inter-
state CON nerce. The Congress has ere
ated the Department of Commerce and
Labor. including the Bureau of Corpora
tons. with for the first time authority to
secure proper publicity of such proceed
ings o. these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. 1t has pro-
vlded for the expcditing Of suits for the
enforcement of the FEDERAL antitrust
law; and by another law it has secured
eqral treatment TO all producers in the
transportation of their goods, thus taking
a long stride forward in making effective
Commission
Department of Commerce and Labor.
The establishment of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, with ;he 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 its creation. Pub
Lefty In corporate affairs will tend to do
away with ignorance. and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic. intelligent inyes-
tigatlon rs already developing facts the
knowledge of which is essential to 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
.uarely with their stockholders. their
competitors. and the public. has nothing
70 fear from such supervision. The pur-
pose of this bureau is not TO emtarrass
or assail legitimate business. but to aid
in bringing about better Industrial con-
dtion-a condition under which there
2 shall be obedience to law and recognition
OF public obligation by all corporations.
GV at or small Inc department Dl toin-
rnnrce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information regarding
TIE business transactions of the nation
bat the executive arm of the government
- aid in strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets. In perfectlng our trans
pcrtation facilities. In building up our
merchant marine. in preventing the en-
trance OF undesirable immigrants. in i'm
proving commercial and industrial condi-
tions, and In bringing together on com
mon ground those necessary partners In
Industrial progress-capital and labor.
Commerce between the nations Is stead
Nv growing IN volume. and the tendency
of the times Is toward closer trade rela-
tions. Constant watchfuness Is needed
t. secure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage in foreign
trade; and we may confidently expect
that the new department VIII justify the
expectation of Its creators by the exer-
else OF this watchfulness. as well as by
the busine ssiike administration OF such
laws relating to our internal anairs as
are intrusted to its care. M
In enacting the laws above enumerated
the Congress proceeded on sane and con-
sentative lines Nothing revolutionary
was attempted: but common-sense and
successful effort was made in the direc-
ton Of seelng that corporations are SO
handled as to subserve the public good.
The legislation was moderate. II was
characterized throughout by the idea that
we were not attaching corporations. but
endeavoring to provide for doing away
with any evil In them: that we drew the
line against misconduct. not against
wealthy 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 legislation. which pur-
pose will undoubtedly be fulfilled, was to
favor such a man when he does we'll and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing Ill. Publicity can do no
harm TO the honest corporation. Tn,
only corporal ton that has cause to dread
II Is the corporation which shrinks from
the tight, and about the welfare OF such
CORPORATIONS we need not be oversensitve
The work of the Department OF Com
r.ercs and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory. OF occurring fair treat
ment alike for labor and for capital.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy OF the national
government. so far as II has the power.
is to hold In check the INSCRIPTIONS man.
whether employer or employee; but to re-
fuse to weaken Individual initiative or
: 10 hamper or cramp the Industrial devel-
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, benefcent 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; that
is, II is drawn on conduct the effort be-
ing to treat both organized capital and
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
rifles OF obedience TO law. OF individual
freedom. and of Justice and fair dealing
towards all. Whenever either corpora
tlon. labor union. or Individual disre-
CARDS the law or acts in a spirit of arbi-
trary and tyrannous Interference with
the rights OF others, whether corpora
lions or individuals. then where the
Federal Government has jurisdiction. 1t
will see to 1t that the misconduct is
stopped paying not the slightest need to
the position or power OF the corporation.
the union or the Individual, but only to
one Vital fact--that IS. the question wheth-
er or not the conduct OF the individual
or aggregate OF individuals Is in &C.
cordance with the law or the land. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty and
his right 10 do MS ne likes with his prop
erty or his labor. so long as he does not