The Elbert County tribune., 1914-01-23
The PRESIDENTS
TRUST ATTITUDE
WILSON URGES CONGRESS TO
SQUARE BUSINESS WITH
FRIENDLY Law.
BASIC PLAN IS GIVEN
COUNTRY PREPARED FOR CON-
PLiANcE WITH LAW REGu-
LATING TRADE.

session of Congress Tuesday the fun
damental principles of the Democratic
administrations program for dealing
with trusts and big business"
The President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress: In my
report "on the state of the Union"
which 1 had the privilege of reading
to you on the second of December
last / ventured to reserve for dis
cussion at later date the subject OF
additional legislation regarding the
very difficult and intricate matter of
trusts and monopolies. The time now
seems opportune to turn to that great
rency legislation, which absorbed
your attention 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 suddenly 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 organized and
maintained, it seems to be coming to
clear and all but universal agree
ment in anticipation of our action,
as if by way of preparation, making
the way easier to see and easier to
set out on. with confidence and with
out confusion of counsel.
Legislation has its atmosphere like
everything else, and the atmosphere
of accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
SO much refreshment is a matter of
sincere congratulation. 1t ought to
make our task very much less diff
cult and embarrassing than it would
have been had We been obliged to con-
tinue to act amidst the atmosphere OF
suspicion and antagonism which has
SO long made it impossible to ap-
proach such questions with dispassion-
ate fairness.
Constructive legislation, when sue
cessful, is always the embodiment of
convincing experience and of the ma
ture public opinion which finally
springs out of that experience. Leg
islation is business of Interpretation.
not of organization, and it is now
plain what the opinion is to 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. 1t has clarified
itself by long contests, and those who
for long time battled with it and
sought to change it are now frankly
and honorably yielding to it and
seeking to conform their actions to
it.
The great business men who or
ganized and financed monopoly and
those who administered it in actual
everyday transactions have, year
after year. until now, either denied
its existence or justified it as neces-
sary for the effective maintenance
and development of the vast business
processes of the country in which
modern circumstances of trade and
manufacture and finance play part.
but all the while opinion has made
head against them.
The average business man is con-
vinced that the ways of liberty are
also the ways of peace. and the ways
of success as we'll, and at last the
masters of business on the great
scale, have begun to yield their pref
erence and purpose, perhaps their
judgment also, in honorable sur
render
What we are purposing to do,
therefore, is, happily. not to hamper
or interfere with business as en-
hl1ghtened business men prefer to do
y, or in any sense to put it under
the ban. The antagonism between
business and government is over. We
are now about to give expression to
the best business judgment of Ameri-
ca, to what we know to be the busi-
ness conscience and honor of the law
The government and business men
are ready to meet each other half
way in common effort to square
business methods with both public
opinion and the law The best in
formed men of the business world
condemn the methods and processes
and consequences of monopoly. as ve
condemn them; and the instructive
judgment of the vast majority of busi-
ness men everywhere goes with them.
We shall now be their spokesmen.
That is the strength of our position
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
effect il inStba way in which prudent
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