The Springfield herald., 1903-12-11

President Rosevelt's message to the
second session of the Fifty-eighth Con.
gress is substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represcn-
tdtireS:
The country is to be congratulated on
the amount of substantial achievement
which has marked the past year both as
regards our foreign and regards our
domestic policy.
With a nation as with man the most
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-
viding for the exercise of supervision
over the great corporations and combina-
tions OF corporations engaged In inter-
state commerce. The Congress has ere
ated the Department of Commerce and
Labor. including the Bureau of Corpora
tions. with for the first time authority to
secure proper publicity Of such proceed
ings of these great corporations as the
public has the right to know. II has pro-
vided for the expediting OF suits for the
enforcement OF the Federal antitrust
law: and by another law 1t 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 n 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
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-
tigation is already developing facts the
knowledge OF which is essential to n 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
sIuarely with their stockholders. their
competitors. and the public. has nothing
to fear from such supervision. The pur-
pose of this bureau is not to emharrass
or assail legitimate business. but to aid
In bringing about a 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
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information regarding
the business transactions of the nation
but 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 en-
trance of undesirab BILE immigrants in i'm
proving commercial and Industrial condl-
tions. and in bringing together on com
mon ground those necessary partners In
industrial progress-capital and labor.
Commerce between the nations is stead
lily growing in volume. and the tendency
of the times is toward closer trade rela-
tions. Constant watchfulness is needed
to secure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate 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, 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-
servative lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted; but common-sense and
successful effort was made In the direc-
tion 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
endeavorng 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 man when he does well and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing i'll. Publicity can do no
harm to the honest corporation. The
only corporation that has cause to dread
1t is the corporation which shrinks from
the light and about the welfare of such
corporations we need not be oversensitive.
The work of the Department of Com
merce and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory. of securing 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 unscrupulous man,
whether employer or employe; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or
TO hamper or cramp the Industrial devel-
opment OF the country. We recognize
that this is era of freedom and com
bination. in which great capitallstic 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 between different corporations.
between different unions is drawn
1t is between different individuals: that
is, 1t is drawn 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-
garGs the law acts in spirit of arbi
trary and tyrannous Interference with
the rights Of others. whether corpora
tions or individuals. then where the
Federal Government has jurisdiction, 1t
will see to 1t that the misconduct is
stopped paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power OF the corpora ton,
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 ac-
cordance with the law OF the land. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty ana
his right to do he likes with his prop
.a.t