Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-01-22
WILSON'S MESSAGE
ON THE TRUSTS
THROUGH CONGRESS PRESIDENT
WARNS AGAINST RESTRAINT
OF TRADE BY MONOPOLY.
HOLD MEN RESPONSIBLE
dnterIocking Direstorates Work Hard
ship on Private individuals and
Should Be Notwithstanding
Hampers Business.
Gentlemen of the Congress:

Hampers Business.
Gentlemen of the Congress-:
In my report on "the state of the
Un1on.' which / had the privilege OF
reading to you on the 1st of December
last, ventured to reserve for discus
sion at later date the subject of addi-
tional legislation regarding the very
o1Dicult and intricate matter Of trusts
and monopolies. The time now seems
opportune to turn to that great ques-
ton; not only because the currency
legislation, which absorbed your atten-
ton and the attention of the country in
December, is now disposed of, but also
because opinion seems to be clearing
about us, with singular rapidity in this
other great field of action. In the
matter of the currency it cleared sud-
denly and very happily after the much
debated Act was passed; in respect of
the monopolies which have multiplied
ABOUT us and in regard to the various
means by which they have been or
ganized and maintained il seems to he
coming to clear and all but universal
agreement in anticipation of our ac-
tion, as II by way of preparation, max
ing the way easier to see and easier
TO set out upon with confidence and
without confusion Of counsel.
Legislation has it's atmosphere like
everything else, and the atmosphere
or accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
so much refreshment is matter of sim
cere congratulation.
1t ought to make our task very much
less difficult and embarrassing than
IL would have been had we been Obliged
10 continue to act amidst the atmos-
phere of suspicion and antagonism
which has so long made it impossible
10 approach such questions with dis.
passionate fairness. Constructive leg
lsiatlon, when successful Is always the
embodiment OF convincing experience.
and OF the mature public opinion which
hnaliy springs out of that experience
Legislation is a business of interpreta-
ton, not of origination; and 1t is now
plain what the opinion is to which we
must give effect in this matter. II is
not recent or hasty opinion. 1t springs
out OF Il. <. expe' ience Of whole gem
Grafton. 1t has clarified itself by long
contest, and those who for a long time
battled with 1t and sought to change
1t are now frankly and honorably
yielding to it and seeking to conform
their actions to it.
The great business men who organ.
lied and financed monopoly and those
VINO administered It in actual every
day transactions have year after year.
until now, either denied it's existence
or justified 1t as necessary for the ef-
Iectfve maintenance and DEVELOPMENT
or the vast business processes of the
country in the modern circumstances
of trade and manufacture and finance:
but all the while opinion has made
mead against them. The average bust
ness man Is convinced that the WAYS
ot liberty are also the ways of peace
and the ways of success as well: and
at last the masters of business on
the great scale have begun to Weld
their preference and purpose. perbans
their Judgment also, in honorable sur.
render
what we are purposing to do, there
fore, Is happily, not to hamper or in
terfere with business as enlightened
business men prefer to do 1t, or in any
sense to put it under the ban. The
antagCnism between business and gov
ernment Is over. We are now about
TO give expression to the best business
Judgment of America, to what we know
TO be the business conscience and
nonor or the land. The Government
and business men are ready to meet
each other half way in a common eff
fort to square business methods with
both public opinion and the law. The
best informed men of the business
world condemn the methods and pro-
cesses and consequences of monopoly
as we condemn them; and the instinc-
tive Judgment Of the vast majority of
business men everywhere goes with
them. We shall now be their spokes-
men. That is the strength of our posi-
ton and the sure prophecy of what
Will ensue when our reasonable work
Is done.
When serious contest ends. when
men unite in opinion and purpose.
those who are to change their ways
OF business joining with those who
ask for the change, it is possible to eff
teot IL In the way in which prudent
and thoughtful and patriotic men
woad wish to see it brought about.
with as few. as slight. as easy and
simple business readjustments as pos
sible In the circumstances, nothing
essential disturbed, nothing torn ND
py the roots, no parts rent asunder
which can be left in wholesome combi
nation. Fortunately, no measures of
sweeping or novel change are neces- |
sary. 1t will be understood that our
object is not to unsettle business or
anywhere seriously to break its estab-
iished courses athwart On the con.
frary, we destre the laws we are now