The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-12-07
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE
IS SENT TO CONGRESS
Deals Boldly and FearIessy as well as Wisely WithAl
Public Questions and Promises Special Message on
the Tariff Question at Time in the Future but Dur
ina the Present Session of Congress.

manufacturing and mining regions
throughout the country. both rs TO
wages. sS to hours of labor, as to
the labor Of women and children and
rs to the effect IN the various labor
centers Of immigration from abroad.
In this Investigation especial attention
should be paid 10 the conditions Of
child labor and child labor legislation
In the several states.
Corporations.
When We come to deal with great
corporations the need for the govern
ment to act directly is far greater than
in the ease OF labor. because great cot.
porations can become such only by en-
gaSinc In interstate commerce. and in
terstate commerce is peculiarly the
field OF the general government. 1t is
an absurdlty to expect to eliminate the
abuses In great corporations by state
action. 1t is difficult to be patient with
an argument that such matters should
be left to the states. because more than
one state purSues the policy Of Great.
Ing on easy terms corporations w.iich
are never operated within that state
at all, but in other states whose laws
they ignore. The national government
alone can deal adequately with these
great corporations. To try to dca!
with them IN IN incorporate. destruc.
tive or demagogic spirit would in all
probability mean that nothing what
ever would be accomplished, and with
absolute certainty that If anything
were accomplished 1t would be Of n
harmful nature. The American peo-
pie need to continue TO show the very
qualities that they have shown-that IS.
moderation, good sense the earnest
desire to avoid doing any damage and
vet the quiet determination 20 proceed,
step by step. without halt and without
hurry. in eliminating or at least IN
minimizing whatever of mischief or of
evil there is 10 Interstate commerce
in the conduct Of great corporations.
They are acting IN no spirit Of hostility
to wealth either individual or cor,
porate. They are not against the rich
man any more than against the poor
man. On the contrary. they are friend
" alike toward rich man and toward
poor man. provided only that each nets
in a spirit Of justice and decency to-
ward his fellows Great corporations
are necessary. and only men of great
and singular mental power can man
age such corporations successfully.
and such men must have great re-
wards. But tEcsc corporations saoa !
be managed with due regard to tie
interest Or tie public as n whole.
Where this can be done under the pres
ent laws It must be done. Where
these laws come short others should
lie enacted 10 supplement them.
Burenu of Corporations.
The burcau Of corporations has made
careful preliminary Investigation Of
many important corporations. 1t will
make special report on the beef in.
dustry.
The policy Of the bureau is to ac-
complish he purposes of its creation
by co-operation, not aHtagonism; by
making constructive LEGISLATION. not
destructive prosecution, tie immediate
object OF .ts INQUIRIES: by conservative
investigation of law aud fact and by
refusal to issue incomplete and hence
necessarily Inaccurate reports. Its pol
icy being thus one Of open inquiry into
and net attack upon business. the bu-
reau has been able TO gain not only the
confidence, but, better still, the coop
Grafton. OF men engaged in Legitimate
business.
The bureau offers to the congress
the mems q getting IT the cost Of pro
ductlon Of our various great staples Of
commerce.
or necessity the careful investigation
Of special corporations VIII aGord the
commissioner knowledge Of certain
business facts. the publication Of which
. might be m improper Infringement OF
private rights. The method p making
public the results Of these inVestiga.
tons affords, under the. law, a means
for the protection of private rights.
The congress Will have all facts yGxcs2t
Continued on page 81