The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-12-11


gress. Its principal features are as fol-
lows:
The country is To he congratulated
IN the amount OF substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year
both as regards our foreign and rs re-
CARDS our domestic policy.
With nation as with man the
most important things are those Of the
household. and therefore the country
is especially TO be congratulated on
what has been accomplished i'm the di-
rection of providing for the exercise of
supervision over the great corporations
and combinations of corporations en-
gagged i'm interstate commerce. The
congress has created the department
of commerce and labor, including the
bureau of corporations, with for the
first time authority TO secure proper
publicity of such proceedings of these
great corporations as the public has
the RICH VI know It has provided for
the eXpcditug of suits for the enforce
ment of tie federal antitrust law, and
by another law it has secured equal
treatment to all producers in the trans
pOrtation of their goods, thus taking
a long stride forward in making effec-
tive the work of the interstate COM
merce commission.
The preliminary work of the bureau
of corporations i'm the department of
labor has shown the wisdom of its ere
alton. Publicity In corporate affairs
will 10 Ia Will
and will afford facts upon which intel
ligent action may be taken. Systemat-
&c, intelligent investigation is already
developing facts the knowledge of
which is essential TO right under
standing of the needs and duties of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organ
lied whose managers in the conduct
OF its business recognize their obliga-
ton 10 deal squarely with their stock
holders, their competitors and the pub
lie, has nothing 10 fear from such SUI
peryisiOn. The purpose of this bureau
ia not TO embarraSS or assail legitimate
business. but 10 aid ia bringing about
better industrial conditional condi-
ton under which there shall be obedi-
ence TO law and recognition of public
obligation by all corporations, great or
small. The department Of commerce
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
10 aid in strengthening our domestic
and foreign markets, in perfecting our
transportation facilities, i'm building up
our merchant marine, in preventing the
entrance Of undesirable immigrants. i'm
improving commercial aud industrial
conditions and i'm bringing together on
common ground those necessary part
ners in industrial progrcss-capital and
labor
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy Of the national
government, 50 far rs it has the power.
is 10 hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man. whether employer or employee. but
TO refuse TO weaken individual initia-
tive or TO hamper or cramp the indus
trial development OF the country. We
reco"uize that this is an era OF fedora
ton and combinations ia which great
capiialistic corporations and labor un-
IONS have become factors of tremendous
Importance in all industrial centers.
Hearty recognition is given the far
reaching. bencticent work which has
been accomplished through both cor
poratious and unions. and the line as
between different corporations. as be-
tween different unions lis drawn as IL
is between different Northumberland
Is, II is drawn on conduct, the effort
being to treat both organized capital
and organized labor alike, asking moth
ing save that the interest of each shall
be brought into harmony with the i'll
terest of the general public and that
the conduct Of each shall conform 10
the fundamental rules of obedience to
law of individual freedom and of JUS
tice and fair dealing toward all. When
ever either corporation. labor union or
individual disregards the law or acts
IN spirit OF arbitrary aud tyrannous
interference with the rights of others.
whether corporations or individuals.
then where the federal government has
jurisdiction il will see to it that the
misconduct is stopped, paying not the
slightest heed to the position or power
of the corporation, the union or the in
dividual, but only to one vital fact
that is. the question whether or not
the conduct of the individual or aggre-
gate Of individuals is i'm accordance
with the law of the land Every man
must be guaranteed his liberty and his
right TO do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor so long as he does
not infringe the rights of others.
Government Receipts aud ENpend-
lures.
From all sources, exclusive of the
postal service, the receipts of the gov
eminent for the last fiscal year aggre-
gated $500. 396,G74 The expenditures
for the same period were $5OG.099,007,
the surplus for the fiscal year being
k54, 297 co. The indications are that
the surplus for the present fiscal year
will be very small if indeed there be
any surplus. From July to November
the receipts from customs were, APP