Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-12-19

President Rosevelts message to the
second session of the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress is substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tdtiTeS:
With nation as with a man the most
important things are those of the house
hold and therefore the country is eSpe-
cialIy 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 Gre
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
1ngs 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 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-
tgation is 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
s1uarely 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
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 small The Department of Com
merce 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
to aid in strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets. in perfecting our trans
portation facilities. in building up our
merchant marine. in preventing the
trance of undesirable immigrants, in i'm
proving commercial and industrial condi-
tions. nd in bringing together on com
mon ground those necessary partners in
Industrial progress and labor.
Commerce between the nations is Stsad-
lily growing in volume and the tendency
of the times is toward closer trade rela
lions. Constant watchfulnesS is needed
to secure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage in foreign
trade: and may confidently expect
that the new department will justify the
expectation of its creators by the exer-
else of this watchfulness. well as by
the businessliSe administration of such
laws relating to our internal affairs as
are fntrusted to its care.
In enacting the laws above enumerated
the Congress proceeded sane and con-
sentative lines Nothing revolutionary
attempted; but a 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 legisl3 ton 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. in
conjunction with his fellows. does his
work along proper and legitimate lines.
The purpose of the legislation which pur-
pose will undoubtedly be fuldlled. was to
favor such man when he does well. and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing H. Publicity can do no
harm to the honest corporati ton The
only corporation that has cause to dread
IT is the corporation which shrinks from
she light. and about the welfare of such
corporations need not be oversensitive-
The work of the Department of Com
,1erce ana Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory. of securing fair treat
mcnt alike for labor and for capital
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government, far It has the power.
is to hold in check the unscrupulouSman.
whether employer enploye: but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or
tc hamper or cramp the Industrial devel-
cpment of the country. We recognize
that this is an era of freedom and com
hnatfon. in which great capitalistic cor
poratio7s and labor unions have become
factors OF tremendous Importance in all
Industrial centers- Hearty recognition is
given the far-reaching. beneficeut work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions. and the
line as between different corpora lions.
as between different unions. is drawn as
1t Is between different individuals. that
is it 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
rules of obedience to law. of individual
freedom. and of justice and fair dealing
towards ALL Whenever either corpora
tion. labor union or individual disre-