Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-21


commerce committee, conferred again
on plans for expediting the bills to
be submitted to congress.
The trade commission bill, prcpar-
cd by the judiciary Nub-committee,
probably will be introduced Wcdncs-
day, from the senate committee.
Expressions On the message came
freely from congressman. The only
~unfavorablc criticisms enianatcd from
the progressiyes.
The following message Oh trusts
and m%onopolies was delivered to con
sress by President Wilson:
Gentlemen of the CONGRESS-: In my
report On the State of the Union,'
which l had the privilege of reading
% you on the first Of December last, !
tOntured to reserve for discussion at
D later date the subject Of additional
legislation regarding the very difficult
and intricate matter of trusts and mo.
nopolies. The time o Gems oppor'
tune to turn to that great question;
not only because the currency legisla'
ton, which absorbed your attention
and the attention of the country In
December, is now disposed Of, but also
because public opinion seems to be
clearing about us with singular rapid.
ity in this other great field of action.
In the matter Of currency it cleared
suddenly and very happily after the
much debated act was passed; in re-
spect Of the m0nopolies which have
multiplied about us and in regard to
the various means by which they have
been organized and maintained it
seems to be coming to a clear and all
but universal agreement in anticipa.
ton Of U action as if by way Of prep.
.aration, making the way easier to see
and easier to set out upon with con.
fidence and without confusion of coun-
sci. r.
Constructive Legislation.
Legislation has its atmosphere like
everything else, and the atmosphere
Of accommodation and mutual under
standing wbich2we now breathe with
SO much refreshment is a matter OF
sincere congratulation. 1t ought to
make our task very much less difficult
and embarrassing than it would have
been had we been obliged to continue
to sit amidst the atmosphere of sus.
picion and antagonism which has so
long made it impossible to approach
such questions with dispassionate
fairness. Constructive legislation,
when successful is always the en-
bodiment of convincing experience and
Of the mature opinion which finally
springs out Of that experience. Leg.
islation is a business of interpreta.
tion, not of origination; and it is now
plain what the opinion is which we
must give effect in this matter. 1t is
not recent or hasty opinion. 1t
springs out of the experience Of a
whole generation, It. has clarified
itself by long contest and those who
for a long time battled with it and
sought to change II are now frankly
and honorably yielding to it and seek.
ing to conform their actions to it.
The great business men who organ.
lied and financed monopoly and those
who administered it in. actual every.
day transactions have year after year
until now, either denied its. existence
or justified it az necessary for the eff
fective maintenance and development
Of the vast business process of the
country in modern circumstances of
trade and manufacture aud finance;
but all tic while opinion has made
head against them. The average bus.
mess man is convinced that the ways
OF liberty are also the ways of peace
and the ways Of success as well: and
ut last the masters Of business on the
great scale have begun to yield their
preference aud purpose. perhaps their
judgment also. in honorable s,rren
der.
Not TO Hamper or Interfere.
What we arc p%urpOsins to do, there.
fore. is. happily. not to hamper or in
terfere with business as enlightened
business men prefer to do i; or in any
sense to put it under the ban. Tie
a%ntagonism between business and gov.
eminent is over We are Now about
TO give expression TO the best bust.
ness judgment OF America, to what we
know to, be the .busil ess conscience
and houor Of the land. The govern
ment and business men are ready to
meet each other half way in a COM
mon effort to square business methods
with both public opinion and the law.
The best informed men. OF the bust
ness world condemn the methods and
processes and consequences OF mcnop.
oily rs We condemn them; and the In.
%stinctive judgment Of the vast major.
ity of business men everywhere goes
with them. We shall now be their
spokesllen. That is the strength of