Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-05
MUST FIX RESPONSIBILITY
President Woodrow Wilson Talks Of
Evils of Corporations.
OFFICIALS SHOULD BE FINED
One Really Responsible Man I'm Jail
Would BE worth Everything to
Public Interests---Escap-
ing Socialism.

NORFOLK. va, July l.-Governor
Hughes Of New York and woodrow Will
son. president Of the Princeton university.
were the orators Of the day at the joint
independence Day celebration and first an
nual reunion OF the lineal descendants of
the signers OF the Declaration of Inde-
pendence at the jamestown exposition, the
descendants reunion being held under this
auspices of the Thomas JEFFERSON Memoir
ial association, OF which former Secretary
Hilary Herbert is the acting president.
military parade reviewed by Governor
Hughes and others preceded the formal
exercises of the day, which opened with
the singing of America" by a chorus
of several hundred school children.
Former Governor Roberts of Connecti-
cut presided and spoke briefly, being fol-
lowed by the reading by William Shields
Mexican of New Jersey. founder of the
Memorial association, of the list OF vice
presidents representing the thirteen orig
inal states and named by the respective
governors Of these states.
President Tucker Of the Exposition COM
pany delivered an address OF welcome.
the Declaration of Independence was read
by Hollins N. Randolph of Atlanta, a
great-grest -great-grsndso of Thomas
Jefferson. Singing Of "Columbia~ and
other patriotic songs by the chorus os
children preceded the addresses of Gov
ernor Hughes and Dr. Wilson.
The "Star spangled Banner" rendered
by the school children, closed the formal
exercises Of the day.
'-'~~-'"~nt Wilson'S Address.
Individual accountability for the acts
o. s. ,t-l,Jh4. ths arrest and lmprison-
ment of corporation heads instead of the
fnlng or dissolution OF corporations them
selves is the remedy for the monopolistic
tendencies and the unlawful practice OF
modern industries, urged by Woodrow
Wilson. president OF Princeton university,
| in an address at the jamestown exposition
today.
zone really responsible man in jail"
he said zone real originator Of the
schemes and transactions which are con-
trary to the public interest, legally lodged
in the penitentiary would be worth more
than a thousand corporations mulcted in
| hnes If the reform Is to be genuine and
permanent"
What this country needs Mr.. Wilson sci
| forth, is not government ownership of rail
roads, etc, but laws that will attack and
punish presidents and general managers
OF railroads, for evasion and violation,
of the statutes. Stock manipulations, ht
calls sheer thefts," and says they shoulC
be punished as such. Failure to do so, II
his mind, is like overlooking highway rob
berries.
Every corporation the educator
stated. .is personally directed either By
some one dominant person or by SON.
group OF persons Somebody IN particuial
isa responsfbIe for ordering or sanotionini
every illegal act committed by its agents
or ofieers; but neither our law OF persona
damage nor our criminal law has sought
to seek the responsible persons out ant
hold them accountable for the acts com
plained Of. We have never attempted such
statutes. We indict corporations themselves
find them guilty Of illegal practices. nne
them and leave the individuals who devist
and execute the illegal acts free 70 discover
new evasions."
be, II we are to better our Industrial condi
tions, Mr.. Wilson believes. Unless some,
thing Of this nature is done and done
quickly. he fears socialism viii result.
Escaping Socialism.
''It is only In this way" he said. that We
can escape socialism. Unless we can single
out the individual again and make him
once more the subject and object OF law W.
shall have to travel still further upon the
road OF government regulation which We
have already travelled so far. and the road
leads 10 state ownership"
President Wilson says II is just az absurd
to indict or dissolve corporations for Of.
fenses against the public an it would be tc
arrest and conhscate automobiles because
their owners killed pedestrians II the in.
dividual Is made responsible he Is con,
vinced the difnculty will be solved.
| It Is estimated that 5000 people we're or
the exposition grounds during the day.
| A temporary organization OF the as
sembled descendants Of the signers Of ths
Declaration OF Independence was effected
this afternoon ana adjournment was ther