The Washington times., 1903-04-04
SapS PzeSenf Lalos Applied
HHh Common Sense ITIiI
Cure the Ills and Foster
lRe Befter Qualities Of Big
Combinations.
Attorney General KHo1 EN-
forcing Anti Trust Meas
ares Win ConSun1mate
Skill and AbIlify" No
Moe LQWS MoQ Needed.

Mo5e LQ10S Mow Needed.
MILWAUKEE,. Wis, April 4.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt was the guest Of the Mil
waukee Merchants and Manufacturers.
: association at a banquet al The PIankin-
toR House last night. Covers were laid
for $50 banqueters
After the banquet had been served.
Toastmaster Wadhams introduced Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who responded 10 the
toast. The President Of the United
States.
Discusses Trusts.
The President took occasion to give
his views on The subject Of trusts.
The President assured his hearers he
intended TO treat the subject from IN
unbiased point of view ana said.
- think / speak for the great majority
or me American people when I say that
We are not in the least against wealth
ss such, whether individual or corpor-
ate; that We merely desire to see aDv
abuse OF corporate or combined wealth
desire the abolition or destruction of big
corporations. but. on the contrary. rec
ognize them as being IN many cases eff
cient economic instruments the results
of-an inevitable process of economic -vo-
luton. and only desire 10 see them ree1,-
lated and controlled so far as nay be
necessary TO subserve the public good
We should BE false to the bistorf,.
principles of our Government If We dis
cFlminated, either by legislation or ad
mInlstration, either for or against man
because Of either his wealth or his pov-
erty. There is 10 proper place in our
society either for the rich man who uses
the power conferred by his riches 10 en-
sefe him 10 oppress and wrong his
heish5ors, nor yet for the demaeogic
agitator who, instead of attackina
abuses as all abuses should be attacked
Wherever found, attacks property. at
tacks prosperity, attacks men OF wealth
IS such, whether they be good or Bad.
attacks corporations whether they do
well OF i'll and seeks. in spirit Of ig-
norant raneog, to overthrow the vsry
foundations upon which rest our national
rel being
Industrial Changes.
In consequence of the extraordinary
Industrial changes OF the last half cen
nry. and notably Of the last TWO or three
decades, changes due mainly TO the rap
fdity and eomplexity OF our industrial
growth, We are confronted with problems
which in their present shape. were un-
known 10 our forefathers. Our great
prosperity, with its accompanying con
eentration of population and of wealth.
its extreme specialization of faculties.
aRd It's development Of giant industrial
leaders, has brought much good and some
evil. and il is as foolish te ignore the
geqd as wiilfuliy TO blind ourselves 10
the-evii
The evil has been partly the inevitable
accompaniment OF the social changes.
and where this is the case II can be cured
neither by Law nor by the administration
OF the law, the only remedy lying in the /
slow change Of character and Of economic /
environment. But for portion OF the /
evil, al least. we think that remedies can
be found. We know well the danger Of /
false remedies, and we are against all /
violent. radical. and unwise change But
We believe that by proceeding slowly, /
yet resoiuteiy, with good sense and mod I
GRAFTON, and also with firm determine /
Eion not 10 be swerved from our course /
either by foolish elamor or by any base |
OF sinister influence. we can accomplish /
much for the betterment Of conditions"
Quotes From Speeches.
The President then quoted from
speeches made by him al the Minnesota
State Fair, nearly two years aeo-his I
Cincinnati speech Of last fall, the recon- .
rnendation in his 1901 message TO Con
gress regarding limitations OF trusts, +
the creation Of the Department OF Com
meree. and the Industrial Commissions 5
report on their trust investigation.
Under those circumstances. con
tinued The President. 1T was a serious
problem 10 determine the wise course
to follow in vitalizing a law which had
ia part become obsolete or proved in
caps bic OF enforcement or what the
Attorney General did in enforcing il
shall speak later. The decisions OF the =
courts upon the Law had betrayed weak
nesses and imperfections. some OF them
50 serious as 20 render abor,iye efforts
to apply any effective remedy for The
existing evils.
II is clear that corporations created
for quasi public purposes. clothed tor
that reason with the ultimate power or
the state 20 take private property
against the VIII OF the owner, hold their
corporate powers as carriers IN trust
for the fairly impartial service Of all
the public. Favoritism in the use OF
such powers unjustly enfiehing some
and uniastly impoyerishing others. dis
eliminating IA favor Of come places and
against others, Is paiDably violatiye OF
plain principles OF Justice Such prac-
tice unchecked is hurtfuI in many ways
Congress. having had It's attention
drawn 70 the matter. enacted most i'm
portaDt anti-rebate law. which greatly
stTengJ hens the interstate commerce