The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-21
COL. ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS

just because ne IL an integral part or
his community, bone OF its bone and
flesh Of its flesh. His life fbers are
intertwined with the life flbers Of his
fellow citizens. Yet nowadays many
men of this kind, when they come to
make necessary trade agreements
with one another. find themselves in
danger of becoming unwilling trans
gressors Of the law, and are at loss
to know what the law forbids and
what It permits. This is all wrong.
There should be a fixed governmental
policy, a policy which shall clearly de-
fine and punish wrong-dolng, and shall
give in advance full information to any
man as to just what he can and Just
what he cannot legally and properly
do.
Control Of "5ig Business"
SO much for the small business man
and the middle.slzed business man.
Now for big business. 1t is impera-
tive to exercise over big business
control and supervision which is un-
necessary as regards small business.
All business must be conducted under
the law. and all business men, big or
little. must act Justly But a wicked
big interest is necessarily more dan
gerous 10 the community than
wicked little interest. "Big business"
in the past has been responsible for
much Of the special privilege which
must be unsparingly cut out of our
national life. do not believe in max
ing mere size of and by itself crimin-
al. The mere fact of size, however,
does unquestionably carry the po-
tentiality of such grave wrong.doing
that there should be by law provision
made for the strict supervision and
regulation OF these great Industrial
concerns doing an Interstate business,
much as we now regulate the trans
portation agencies which are engaged
In interstate business. The antitrust
law does good In so far as II car be
invoked against combinations which
really are monopolies or which restrict
production or which artgfcially raise
prices. But in so far as its workings
are uncertain, or as II threatens cor
porations which have been guilty OF
anti-social conduct, Il does harm.
Moreover, It cannot by itself accom-
plish more than trifling part OF the
governmental regulation of big busi-
ness which is needed. The nation and
the states must cooperate in this mat
ter. Among the states that have en-
tered this field Wisconsin has taken a
leading place. Following Senator La
Toilette, number of practical work
ers and thinkers in Wisconsin have
turned that state into an experiment
al laboratory Of wise governmental ac-
ton In aid OF social and Industrial ,us-
uce. They have initiated the kind of
progressive government which means
not merely the preservation Of true
democracy. but the extension of the
dustrialism as we'll as into politics.
One prime reason why the state has
been so successful in this policy lies
in the fact that It has done Justice to
corporations precisely as II has ex-
acted Justice from them. Not
only as a matter Of justice, but in our
own interest. we should scrupulously
respect the rightB of honest and de-
cent business and should encourage It
where its activities make, as they
often do make, for the common good.
II Is for the advantage Of all of us
when business prospers. Our demand
is that big business give the people a
square deal and that the people give
a square deal 10 any man engaged in
big business who honestly endeavors
10 do what is right and proper.
On the other hand, any corporation,
big or little. which has gained it's po-
sition by unfair methods and by in
reference with the rights Of others.
which has raised prices or limited
output in improper fashion and been
guilty Of demoralizing and corrupt
practices, should not only be broken
up, but 1t should be made the bust
ness Of some competent governmental
body by constant supervision to see
that II does not come together again.
save under such strict control as to
insure the community against all dan
ger Of repetition Of the bad conduct
The chief trouble with big business
has arisen from the fact that big
business has so often refused to abide
by the principle OF the square deal;
the opposition which l personally
have encountered from big business
has in every case arisen not because
did not give square deal but be-
cause did.
Proper Governmental Control.
All business into which the element
Of monopoly In any way or degree en-
ters, and where Il proves in practice
impossible totally TO eliminate this ele.
ment OF monopoly. should be carefully
supervised. regulated and controlled
by governmental authority; aud such
control should be exercised by admin
istrative, rather than by judicial, Off.
GERS. No effort should be made TO de-
stroy a big corporation merely be-
cause II is big. merely because it has
shown itself peculiarly efficient
business instrument. But we should
not fear. II necessary. TO bring the
regulation OF big corporations to the
POINT OF controlling conditions so that.
the wage-worker shall have a wage
more than sufficient TO cover the bare
cOef ~ 1itrfuo and horra ne labor pnt