The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-03-01
MONTANA'S T. SSAGE TO ROOSEVELT.

MONTANA'S MESSAGE TO ROOSEVELT.
The members of the ninth legislative
assembly undoubtedly expressed the
sentiments of the people of Montana
in adopting a resolution %endorsin g
the action of President Roosevelt in
seeking federal regulation of corpor-
ate interests that may be detrimental
to the public good. The resolution
was adopted by unanimous vote, the
republican, democratic and fusion
members of the house of representa-
tivcs supporting the motion to send
this message from Montana to the
president.
The Montana legislative assembly
is in line with the law makers of many
other states in thus endorsing the eff.
forts of the national executive in this
matter. 1t is believed the president:
has a hard and prolonged fight in
prospect, the general impression be-
ing that representatives of corporate
interests in the United States senate
will seek to defeat or delay some of
the important legislation contemplate.
ed. A non-partisan view of the sit.
uation is given in these remarks by the
Drovers Journal:
President Roosevelt in his last mes.
sage to congress said: "Great or
porations are necessary, and only
men of great and singular mental
power can manage such corporations
successfully, and such men must have
great rewards. But these corpora.
tions should be managed with due re-
gard to the interest of the public as a
whole. Where this can be done under
the present laws, it must be done.
Where these laws come short others
should be enacted 10 supplement
them"
Mr.. Roosevelt thus viewed the cor.
pOratiOn power of this country in a
way which may be called conserva.
tive, but not II Il name which would
indicate any but Il desire to get at the
right end of the question. There are
great corporations in this country
which are not Il menace to the peo-
pies interests, but on the other hand
are conducted in such Il manner as to
put manufactured products on the
market at Il eos which is relatively
| cha >.,,. h IN n An,nln nrn NrI,,, IN.
dividual manufacturers We're fighting
among themselves for trade supre.
macy, to the detriment of the public
welfare.
Wages paid employees were then
lower than at present, and, consider
ing the cost of the raw material at that
time, the public was forced to pay rel
a,ivcly higher prices.
Combinations of this kind, whether
headed by men of great mental power
who reap great rewards, or by others
of smaller force and who gain smaller
profits, are Il help to the public at
large, and their success depends on
the public confidence. Gigantic COM
binations with millions of watered
stock on which Il dividend must be
paid. and this dividend derived
through %pluudering of the public
purse, are the greatest menace to the
prosperity Of the country, ana their
actions should be curbed by legisla.
ton of drastic nature if need lie.
While our anti trust laws cover !;
broad scope and are sufficiently s,rin.
gent TO prevent the operation of pill.
fcring combines rs a whole. there are
certain great commercial powers in
this country which are operated too
plainly in the interests of the owners,
and which have heretofore gone uu.
punished for their plunderiug con
quests against the public wealth.
Mr.. Roosevelt has urged more s,riu-
gent laws for the control of such Grim.
inal trusts, and this legislation has
been passed by branch of our law
making body and now awaits action
by the senate. This measure gives
the interstate commerce commission
more power for the regulation of the
big corporations doing a national
business, aud while nothing has been
directly indicated that the action of