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
tGtiVeS:
The country is to be congratulated or
the amount OF substantial achievement
which has marked the past year both as
regards our foreign ard as regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with a man the mos,
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-
vtding for the exercise of supervision
over the greet corporations and combina-
lions of corporations engaged in inter-
state commerce. The Congress has ere
atcI the Department of Commerce and
Labor including the Bureau of Corpora
lions. with for the first time authority 10
secure proper publicity of such proceed
lngs OF these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. 1t has pi o.
Vidtd for the expCditing 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
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 real
advance in the direction of doing all tina
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 affol d
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic. intelligent inves-
tigasion Is already developing facts the
knowledge of which is esse initial 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
Skuarely 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
mcrce 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 perfecting our trans
portation facilities, In building up our
merchant marine, in preventing the en-
trance Of undesirable immigrants, In i'm
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
fly growing In volume. and the tendency
cf the times is toward closer trade rela-
lions. Constant watchfulness Is needed
to secure to Americans the chance to par
tioipate 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 watchfulness. as well as by
the businesslike 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 lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted: but common-sense and
successful effort was 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 legislation. which pur.
pose will undoubtedly be fulfilled was to
favor such a man when he does well. and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing i'll. Publicity can do nc
harm to the honest corporation. TIL
only corpora ton that has cause to dread
II Is the corporation which shrinks from
the tight and about the welfare of such
corpora tions We need not be oversensitive
The work of the Department of Com.
r:erce 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 1t has the power
Is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man
whether employer or employee: but to re-
fuse to weaken Individual initiative o,
TO hamper or cramp the Industrial devel.
opnent of the country We recognize
b,nation, In which great capitallstlc cor
porations and labor unions have become
factors OF tremendous Importance in al
industrial centers Hearty recognition 1!
given the far-reaching, beneficent worl
whlch has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions and tn
line as between different corporations
as between different unions, is drawn a
II Is between different individuals; tina
IL. u Is drawn on conduct, the effort be
Ing to treat both organized. capital an
organized labor alike sshing nothin
save the interest of each shall be brougl
into harmony with the interest Of III
general public. and that the conduct
each shall conform to the fundament;
rules OF obedience to law, of indiyidu;
freedom, and of justice and fair dealin
towards all. Whenever either corpori
ton, labor union. or individual disr
ga-cs the law or acts in a spirit of arb
trary and tyrannous interference viii
the rights of others, whether corpor;
tons or individuals then where Il
Federal Government has Jurisdiction,
WIN see 10 II that the misconduct
stopped. paying not the slightest need
The position or power OF the corporate
the union or the individual but only
one vital fact--that Is. the question whet
sr or not the conduct of the lndividu
Or aggregate OF individuals is in a
cof6ance with the law OF the land Eve
man must be guaranteed his liberty al
his riehl 10 do rs ne likes with his pro
erty ar HIS labor. 80 LONG as he does n