Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-23

useful combinations as are made with
absolute openness and as the repre-
tentatives of the government may pre-
viously approve.
Obstacles to Prosecutions
In dealing with those who offend
against the antitrust and Interstate
commerce laws the department of JUS
tice has to encounter many and great
difficulties. Often men who have been
guilty of violating these laws have
really acted in criminal fashion. and
If possible should be proceeded against
criminally; and therefore 1t is advisable
that there should be a clause in these
laws providing for such criminal ac-
ton, and for punishment by lmprison-
ment as well as by fine
Our aim is to try to do something eff
fective; our purpose is to stamp out
the evil; we shall seek to find the most
effective device for this purpose; and
we shall then use it, whether the device
can be found in existing law or must
be supplied by legislation. Moreover,
when we thus take action against the
wealth which works iniquty, we are
acting in the interest of every man Of
property who acts decently and fairly
by his fellows, and We are strengthen
ing the hands Of those who propose fear
lessly to defend property against ALI
unjust attacks. No individual. no COR
poration, obeying the law, has anything
to fear from this administration.
Labor and Health
l very earnestly hope that the legis-
lation which deals with the regulation
of corporations engaged in interstate
business will also deal with the rights
and interests of the wageworkers en-
ployed by those corporations. Action
was taken by the congress last year
limiting the number of hours that rail
way employees should be employed.
We have now secured national en-
ployers' liability law; but ultimately Il
more far-reaching and thorough going
law must be passed.
| also hope that there will be legisla-
ton increasing the power of the ma
tiOnal government to deal with certain
matters concerning the health of our
people everywhere; the federal authori-
ties, for instance. should join with all
the state authorities in warning against
the dreadful scOurge of tuberculosis.
Your own state government, here in
Massachusetts deserves high praise
for the action it has taken in these pub
lie health matters during the last few
years; and in this, as in some other
national matters hope to see the ma
tional government stand abreast Of
the foremost state governments.
Wall Street Is Defied
During the present trouble with the
stock market, have, of course, received
countless requests and suggestions.
public and private, that should say or
do something to ease the situation.
There is Il world wide financial dis
turbance. 1t is felt in the bourses Of
Paris and Berlin, and British consols
are lower, while prices of railway Sc
curities have also deprecated.
On the New York Stock Exchange
the disturbance has been particularly
severe. Most of ii, | believe, to be due
to matters not particularly confined
to the United States and to matters
wholly unconnected with any govern
mental action, but it may we'll be that
the determination of the government,
In which, gentlemen. it will not waver,
to punish certain malefactors of great
wealth, has been responsible for some
thing of the troubles, at least to the
extent of having caused these men to
combine to bring about as much finan-
cal stress as they possibly can in order
to discredit the policy of the govern
ment, and thereby secure reversal of
that policy so that they may enjoy the
fruits of their own evil-doing.
That they have misled many good
people into believing that there should
be such reversal of policy is possible
If so, | am sorry, but it will not alter
my attitude Once for all. let me say
that as far as | am concerned, and for
the Is months of my administration
that remain, there will be no change
In the policy we have steadily pur-
sued no letup in the effort to secure the
honest observance of the law. for re-
gard this contest as one to determine
who shall rule this government-th
people through their governmental
agents, or few ruthless and deter
mined men whose wealth makes them
particularly formidable. because they
hide behind the breas twork of cor
porate organization.
| wish there to be no mistake on
this point 1t is idle to ask me not to
prosecute criminals rich or poor. But
| desire no less emphatically to have
1t understood that we have undertaken
and will undertake no action of vim
dictve type, and above all, no action
which shall inflict great or unmerited
suffering upon the innocent stockhold-
erS and upon the public as whole.