Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-12-07
RS MESSAGE SENT
IN CONGRESS TODAY
CONTINUED from page -

is essential to right understanding OF
the needs and duties of the business
world. The corporation which Is hon.
estly and fairly organized, whose man.
ayers in the conduct of its business
recognize their obligation TO zeal
squarely with their stockholders, their
competitors, and the public, has MOTH
ing to fear from such supervision. the
purpose of this bureau is not to en-
barrass or assail legitimate business
but to aid in bringing about better
Industrial condition. condition un-
der which there shall be obedience to
law and recognition Of public oblga-
ton 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 out
the executive arm of the government
to aid i'm strengthening our domestic
and foreign markets, in perfecting our
TRANSFORMATION facilities. in building up
our merchant marine, in preventing
the entrance Of undesirable 1mml-
grants, in improving commercial ana
industrial conditions, and in bringing
together on common ground those nee
essary partners in industrial progress
capital and labor. Commerce be-
tween the nations is steadily growing
in volume and the tendency of the
times is toward closer trade relations.
Constant watchfulness is needed to Sc
cure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage in for
eign trade: and we may confidently ex-
pect that the new department Will JUS
tify the expectation of it's creators by
the exercise of this watchfulness, as
well as by the businesslike admins
tration of such laws relating to our in
ternal affairs as are intrusted to it's
care.
Functions of New Department
In enacting the laws above enumer-
ated the congress proceeded on sane
and conservative lines. Nothing revo-
lutionary was attempted; but COM
mon sense and successful effort was
made in the direction of seeing that
corporations are so handled as to sub
serve the public good. The legislation
was moderate 1t was characterized
throughout by the idea that we were
not attacking corporations, but en-
deavoring 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 the capitalist who
alone, or in conjunction with his fell
lows does his work along proper and
legitimate lines. The purpose of the
legislation, which purpose will I'M
doubtedly 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
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
of commerce and labor has
been conditioned upon this theory of
securing fair treatment alike for labor
and for capital.
Capital and Labor
The consistent policy of the national
government, so far as it has the power.
is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man. whether employer or employee;
but TO refuse to weaken individual In
itiative or to hamper or cramp the in
dustrial development of the country.
We recognize that this is an era of fed
Grafton and combination, in which
great capitalistic corporations and la
Dor unions have become factors of tre-
mendous importance in all industrial
centers Hearty recognition is given
the far preaching, beneflcent work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations ana unions. and the
line as between different corporations,
as between different unions, is drawn
as it is between different individuals:
that is, it is drawn on conduct, the eff
fort being to treat both organized cap
ital and organized labor alike; asking
nothing save that 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 lnulNluual IfeeuoTn, anu Oh
justice and fair dealing towards all
Whenever either corporation, labor
union. or individual disregards the law
or acts a spirit of arbitrary and ty
rannous interference with the rights
of others, whether corporations or in
dividuals, then where the federal gov
eminent has jurisdiction it will see to
it that the misconduct is stopped pay-
ing not the slightest heed to the pos-
ton or power of the corporation, the
union or the individual, but only to one
vital fact-that is, the question
whether or not the conduct of the in
diVidual or aggregate of individuals is
in accordance with the law of the land
Every man must be guaranteed his
liberty and his right to do as he likes
with his property or his labor, so long
as he does not infringe the rights of
others. No man is above the law and
no man is below it; nor do we ask any
mans permission when we require him