Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-12-10

President Rosevelt's message TO the
second session Of the Fifty-e!ghth Con.
gress Is Substantially as follows:
TOfhe Senate and House Of Represen-
fdfives:
With a nation as with a man the most
important things are those Of the house
hold. and therefore the country is espe-
Ciaily 10 be congratulated on what has
been accomplished In the direction OF pro-
yiding for the exercise Of supervision
over the great corporations and combina-
lions Of corporations engaged in inter-
stale commerce. The Congress has Gre
uted 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
inGg Of these great corporations rs the
public has the right 20 know. II has pro-
Viied for the eXpcditing OF suits for the
enforcement OF the Federal antitrust
Law; and By another law II has secured
equal treatment 20 all producers I'm 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
az Commerce and Labor. with the Bureau
QI Corporations Hereunder, marks a real
adyance in the direction OF doing all that
tspossible for tho solution OF the questions
Vitally. affecting capitalists and wage
workers.
Functions Of New Department.
g The preliminary work Of the Bureau
% Corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom OF its creation. Pub
ilrity In corporate AFFAIRS will tend to do
away with ignorance. and win AFFORD
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic. intelligent inyes-
ttgatIOn 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 obliga ton to deal
asuarely 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 assan legitimate business. but to aid
IN bringing about better Industrial con-
dition--a condition under which there
shall be obedience 20 law and recognition
of public obligation by all corporations.
great or small The Department OF Com
Inerce and Labor will be not only the
, clearing house for information regarding
the business transactions Of the nation
hut the executive arm Of the government
20 aid In strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets. In perfectlng our trans
portation facilities, In building up our
merchant marine. In preventing the en-
TRACE OF undesirable immigrants. in i'm
proving commercial and industrial condi-
lions. and In bringing together on COM
mon ground those necessary partners In
Industrial progress-capital and labor,
Commerce between the nations Is stead
ily growing IN volume. and the tendency
OF the times IL toward closer trade rela-
lions. Constant watchfilness is needed
10 secure 10 Americans the chance to par
ffpinnfg the hest nnVnnfa in fOTninn
trade, and we may confidently expect
that the new department will Justify the
expectation Of its creators by the exer-
else OF this watchfulness, as well as By
the buslnosslflIe administration of such
laws relating 10 our internal affairs as
are intrusted TO its care
In enacting the laws above enumerated
the Congress proce eded on sane and con-
sentative lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted but a common-sense and
successful effort was made In the dlrec-
ton OF seeing that corporations are 30
handled as 10 subserve the public good.
The legislation was moderate. II was
characterized throughout by the idea that
We we're not attacking corporations. but
endeavorlng 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 Ga
conjunction with his Fellows, does HIS
work along proper and legitimate lines.
The purpose % the legislation. which pur-
pose will alphabetically be fulhiled, was to
favor such q man when he does well, and
20 supervise his action only 70 proven,
him from doing m. Publicity can do no
harm to the honest corporation. The
only corporation that has cause to dread
II . The corporation which shrinks from
the Hight. and about the welfare OF such
corporations we need not be oversensitiVe.
The work 81 the Department Of Com
merce and Labor has been conditioned
upon THIS theory Of securing fair treat
mont alihs FOR labor and for capital
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy OF the national
ggFernmcnt 80 far a. Il has the power,
ia 70 hold Ia check the interruptions man,
whether employer or emplOye: bat to re-
fuse % weaken Individual Initiative OF
70 hamper or oramR the Industrial dcvel-
opment q the country We recognise
that fhls . 40 era u freedom and com.
finati9n. IN Which great eaHitaiiafic cor
borations and labor unions have becomo
factors Of tremendous Importance In All
Industrial eenters. Hearty recognition Il
given the far-reaching henefceut WOrt
which has been accomplished through
both corporations aud unions and the
line as between different corporations
AZ hefween different Hniohs Il drawn "a
q IS between different individuals. that
IS. Il IL drawn on conduct. the efort be
INC 70 trest both Organized capital and
organized labor alii,ei asking nothing
save The interegt o. each shall be brought
into harineny win me Interest o. q.
general public, and THAI the conduct Of
each shall conform 20 the fundamental
rules 81 0peoignce % hH. o. ipdlfidual
froedfU. ana ~ Justice ana tpir dealing
t1arI Qil Fnt1erf either cCfrorl-
fgr 'ttr i9n inait'anai ditst'