New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-28
ROOSFVELT'S PLAN
FOR BIG BUSINESS
Saws Governments Prosecutions Of Trusts Have Accom-
plished Practically Nothing-Presen Policy Chaos =
Advocates Clearer Law and an Administrative Body
Resembling the Interstate Commerce Commission

viz
Chicago. March 27.-"Big business
and the control of corporations were dis
here tonight. He said that he govern
ments trust prosecutions in the oil and
tobacco cases had accomplished nothing
of real worth.
"Our present policy of chaos cannot
permanently continue" he said. He as
serted that there should be absolute
clearness of law" and spoke in favor or
"a competent administrative body an
interstate industrial commission, or
something of the kind which would do
for the world of industrial production
what the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion is doing for the world Of industrial
transportation"
Colonel ROosevelt's speech follows:
In nv speech al Columbus | tried to de-
velop two main lines Of thought-hrst;
that the people have the right to rule ana
that through the exercise OF TINS rlSht w
must obtain social and industrial Justice
and. second. that our aim must be 10 con-
troll business not to strange it,
The three great classes of the American
community arc the farmers. the wage
workers and the business men, big ana
little, wholesale and retail 1t is essential
that all three shall prosper. II Is essen
tial that there shall be more equltaoIc
division of prosperity than has been the
case in the past. This prosperity can onlN
hc lasting If il is based on Justice. and IL
cannot be based on justice unless me
small man. the farmer the mechanic the
wage worker generally. the clerk on sal,
arv. the small business man. the ret@l.
dealer have their rights guaranteed "
these men have their rights guaranteed
then they will prosper and the prosperity
will extend to the big man
Fundamentally or opponents. VINO say
they are for prosperity. differ from us IN
wishing 10 see the prosperity come 10 the
big man first and then drip down through
anxious to see tho big man prosper as they
arc, hut I do not believe that he can
prosper in any really enduring manner
unless under conditions which insure 10
the small men their fair chance. In short,
ss regards prosperity, there are two things
10 remember-fTSt. that there must be
division Of prosperity so that all shaIl
benefit. and second, that there can he no
such division of prosperity unless the
prosperity is there 10 divide.
Says Extremists Are Combined.
II is curious to see how often the eN-
tTemists on both sides combine against
the sane and moderate men who are striv-
ing 10 fight 9 real battle for justice.
use the word moderate sdvisedly. for
the violent sslf-styled conservative is just
as wild an extremist the most violent
Of the self STYLED extreme radicals. At
the present day the Teactionsry who
wishes that the great corporations shall
remain absolutely unbridled finds his most
effective ally in the make believe eNtrem-
list who desires 10 pose as the utra-enemy
Of the trusts. The small business man
and the honest big business man arc alike
interested in securing definite. settled
Z .NtV.- L StsEztta IN oil
q bout business.
The lawbreaking trust owner. OF the
other hand. objects much more 10 def
mite and clearly settled policy of govern
mental control than he does 10 tho policy
Of make believe extinction and therefore
he halls with sardonic pleasure the atti
tude Of the extremist who is always de-
claiming about his intention of killing all
the trusts. for the trust msgnate knows
that this particular kind Of agitator will
not kin the trusts At all and will. As
matter Of fact. accomplish nothing what
ever except to divert attention from the
real remedies which would cure the evil.
our present policy Of chaos cannot per
manently continue. II hurts us At home.
and II impairs our chance to get our proper
share Of foreign commerce. We are giving
about Il per cent Of our time TO lighting
among ourselves. and only about - per
cent to promoting our foreign trade. When
We act in this manner We may he sure that
we shall suffer i'm competition with such
an admire bly, organized international rivsl
as, for instance. Germany, WnerH lle COZ
ditions are exactly the reverse. Now. J
have unlimited faith in the epergy. militia
tive aud common sense OF our business
men and | have ma fear for the result n
they are placed IN fair competition with
any foreign competitors. But we oupSelNrS
must make the conditions fair II they arc
to nave a decent chance. To do 50 We must
get before them an accurate chart OF what
they can do and what they cannot do IN
the business world. We must endoavor 10
encourage legitimate and honest business,
and Al the same time war against business
crookedness and injustice.
Wants an Industrial Commission.
There should be absolute clearness OF
the law: there should be competent sd-
rninstrative body. an interstate indus
trial commission or something OF the
kind, which would do for the world OF
Industrial production what the Inter
state Commerce Commission is doing Tor
tho world Of industrial transportation.
The effort 10 do this work through law
suits and ny courts has proved Nat faiI-
ure What Is necessary Is administrative
work. The creation of commerce court
in dealing with interstate commerce has
been A step backward, not n step FORWARD
II has represented the undOlng OF some OF
the good work that has been done IN inter
state commerce; and We must not repeat
the mistake ~. 49,.
shall get permanent business prosperity,
and II Caa only be permanent II II Is on
"a 70 basis and II can only be on safe
basis 4 thcro * effective governmental
control of big business. including the issue
and the sale of stocks and bonds, 50 as 10