The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-19

Atlanta May 1.-THE important
features Of the second days session
Of the National Association of MANN
| facturers were The address of Sar.,,,ei
Spencer, president of the Southern
Railway, the address of Eugene N. Foss
OF Massachusetts. on Reciprocity. and
the report Of the committee on resp
| iutions which caused lively debate
and the rejection of one part of the
report which called upon the Isthmisu
| Canal Commission to USE American
made goods in connection with canal
construction
increased attendance and increased
| interest marked the days programme
which was opened by Mr.. Foss. whose
prominence as an advocate of reciprcc-
ity with foreign nations has giyea
weight to his wor is. In lengthy ia
per he discussed the subject histori-
cally and economically. He was fol-
lowed by President Spencer. who smoke
as follows.
ADDRESS OF MIR. SPENCER.
The act to regulate commerce, passed
by Congress in. 1857, was directed ;ow-
| ards the regulation of a certain class
of common carriers The antf-trust
act of 1890, known as the Sherman an
| THRUST law, was supposed at the tine
| OF its passage TO be directed solely
against the so-called trusts or iarg..
corporations or combinations engaged
in industrial pursuits other than that
| OF transportation The two acts were
intended to deal severaIly, one with
the function of transportation conduct
ed by common carriers by rail: tha
other with the manufacture and sale
of commodities.
1t has since bes1 determined by Judi
cial decree that both acts apply to The
common carrier, with the anomalous
and confusing rescult that IL the carrier
obey one law he Iuns the risk of dis
obeying the other. The only way he
can establish that uniformity and sta
bility in rates demanded by the ono
law is to enter into an agreement
which may be forbidden by the other.
| The act of 1890 was intended not TO
control or regulate, but practically to
suppress the growth of the industrial
corporations.
Perhaps the most striking feature of
industrial conditions since its enact
ment has been the continuous and
enormous increase In the number of
such corporations, their almost unin-
terrupted growth In wealth and efficisn-
cy and their combination into larger
units.
Instead of being suppressed, these
powerful agencies for economy and
usfulness have grown until they prac-
| tically represent the progressive indus
try Of the country While the change
| of industry may, I'm some cases, re
due to force IL circumstances contrary
to the preference of the individual,
there are few exceptions to the r1ie
that the change has been the result
of that Individual choice which Is he
very essence of Industrial and CON-
merciai freedom. 1t has been aptly said
that the corporation is but the indi-
vidual expanded.
Whether business be conducted Dy a
person. firm or a corporation large
or small, it Is the ambition, the enter
Prise anu tns acniesSuen1 oi lhe Hut
vidual that make II successful.
The spirit Of Industrial and CONNER
cial combination, founded on the funda-
mental laws of economy OF productlcE
and of cheaper distribution, can never
suppress or diminish the personal ac-
tivity Of any citizen, except Of one
whose natural limitations disqualify
him for successful competition with his
superior neighbor. So long as tha,
competition is fair and legal. the indi-
vidual can not unduly suffer. IL Is
: the part of the government, OF course
TO see that the field Of competition Ii
kept open equally TO all, but 1t is moi
its province to bolster up the fortunes
or even the opportunities Of one agains
the other. Freedom Of endeavor fos