The Washington times., 1905-08-11
PEECH AT CHAUTAUOUA TODAY

think that the alternative is simply be
tween submitting to the mild kind Of
the absolute freedom TO do whatever
they think best.
Will Have to Submit.
They are greatly in error. Either
they Will have to submit to reasonable
supervision and regulation by the Ma
tonal authorities or else they will uIti-
mately have to submit TO governmental
action of far more drastic type. Per-
sonally, l think cur people would be
most unwise If they let any exaspera-
ton due to the acts Of certain great cor
pors tions drive them into drastic act
ton, and l should oppose such action.
But the great corpora tions are them
selves 10 blame if by their opposition
to what is legal and just they foster
the popular feeling which tells for such
drastic action
Some great corporations resort to
every technical eEpedient to render en-
1orcement of the law impossible and
their obstructive tactics and refusal to
acqufesce In the policy of the law have
taxed 10 the utmost the machinery of
lhe department of Justice In my judg-
neht Congress may well inquire whether
IL should not seek other means for
carrying into effect the law.
oeneVe that all corporations en-
Sdseo IN interstate commerce should be
uldef the supervision OF the National
Government. | do not believe in taking
steps hastily or rashiy and it may be
mat all that Is necessary in the imme-
dlate future Is TO pass an Interstate
CoILhierce Dill comforting upon some
ptaHch OF the executive government the
power OF effective action 10 remedy the
ABUSES IN connection with railway trans
PoItaton But in the end and in my
Judgment at time not very far off.
we SnaH have to, or at least we shall
ma that we ought to, take further
actlon as regards all corporations do
ing interstate business.
ne enormous increase In interstate
I9der resulting from the industrial de-
Felopment OF the last quarter of cen
Jury, makes 1t proper that the Federal
government should. so far as may be
necessary to carry into effect its ma
uonal policy. assume a degree of ad-
lhlhlstratVe control of these great cor
pOrations
1t may well be that we shall find
that the only effective way of exercis-
ing this supervision is to require all
corporations engaged in interstate COM
say, 70 the Department of Commerce.
that they are not parties TO any con-
tract or combination or engaged in any
monopoly in interstate trade in viola
ton OF the antitrust law. and that
their conduct on certain other specified
points Is proper and, moreover. that
these corporations shall agree, with
penalty of forfeiture of their right 70
any, evidence cf any kind as to their
trade between the States whenever so
required by the Department of Com
nicrce.
1t is the almost universal policy of
the several States. provided by statute.
that foreign corporations may lawfully
conduct business within their bound
aries only when they produce certif1-
Gates that they have complied with the
requirements OF their respective States,
in other words, that corporations shae
not enjoy the privileges and immunties
AFFORDED by the State governments
without first complying with the policy
OF their laws Now the benefits which
corporations engaged in interstate trade
enjoy under the United States Govern
ment are incalculable; and in respect
OF such trade the jurisdiction Of the
Federal Government il supreme when
1t chooses TO exercise it.
When. IS is now the case, many of
the great corporations consistently
strain the last resources of legal techni-
caiity to avoid obedience to a law for
the reasonable regula tion of their bust
ness the only way effectively to meet
this attitude on their part IS TO give TO
the executive department Of the Gov
ernment a more direct, and therefore
more efficient supervision and control of
their management.
In speaking against the abuses com