The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-01-22
BAD PRACTICES
OF TRUSTS TO
Be FORBIDDEN
Law and Penalty Must Be Made
Equally Plain. Says the
President.
WILL NOT HAMPER BUSINESS
AntagonIsm Between Government and
Business is Over-Wouid Give inter
state Commerce Commission Pow.
er TO Regulate Financial Oper-
atoms Of Railroads.

Washington, Jan. 20-Before a
Joint session of both houses of con
gress President Wilson today deliv-
erred a special message on trusts. The
message follows
Gentlemen OF the congress:
In my report ON the State OF the
Union. which | had the privilege OF
reading TO you on the LIST Of Decem-
Der last, | ventured to reserve for
discussion 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
question; not only because the cur
rency legislation. which absorbed your
attention and the attention Of the
country in December, is now disposed
Of but also because opinion appears
to be clearing about us with singular
rapidity in this other great field Of
action.
Business Of Interpretation.
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 matter Of sin
rcere congratulation. II ought to make
our task very much less difficult and
embarrassing than it would have been
had We been Obliged to continue TO
,l,.,,fY ne al
cion and antagonism which has so
long made It impossible to approach
such questions with dispassionate fair
ness. Constructive legislation, when
successful Is always the embodiment
of convincing experience and of the
mature public opinion which finally
springs out OF that experience. Leg
isatiou is a business of Interpretation
not or origination: and it Is now plain
what the opinion is to which we must
give effect in this matter. II is not re
cent or hasty opinion
The great businessmen who organ
tied and financed monopoly and those
who administered il in actual every
day transactions have year after year
until now. either denied its existence
or justified IL as necessary for the of
fective maintenance and development
OF the vast business processes of the
country in the modern circumstances
OF trade and manufacture and finance
but all the while opinion has mad,
head against them. The average
businessman is convinced that thu
ways Of liberty are also the ways o
peace and the ways Of success a,
well, and at last the asters Of bust
ness on the great scale have begun L
yield their preference and purpose
perhaps their judgment also, In honor
able surrender.
viii Not Hamper.
What we are purposlne to do, there
fore. is happily not 10 hamper or in
terfere with business as enlightened
business men prefer to do it, or In an,
sense TO put 1t under the ban. Tn
iantagonlsm between business and GOV
iernment is over We are now abou
10 give expression to the best bushes
know TO be the business conscience
and honor of the land. The govern
Iment and business men are ready t,
meet each other half way In common
effort TO square business methods will
both public opinion and law. The hes
informed men Of the business worlI
condemn the methods and proc
and consequences OF monopoly as ~
condemn them; and the instinctiv
Judgment OF the vast majority OF bus
mess men everywhere goes with them
We shall now be their spokesman
When serious contest ends. whel
men unite in opinion and purpose
those who are TO change their ways o
business, Joining with those who asl
Tor the change il Is possible 10 effec
Il IN the way In which prudent an,
thoughtfu and patriotic men woul,
wish TO gee il brought about, with a
few, as slight, as easy and simple busi
mess resadiustmrnts as possible in IN
circumstance, nothing essential dis
turbed. nothing torn up by the roots
no parts rent asuuder which can b.
1eft in wholesome combination For
tunately. no measures Of sweeping o
novel change are necessary. II will b.
understood that our object is not Il
lunsettle business or anywhere serious
.Iy to break its established course
hthwart On the contrary, We desir
rhe laws va are now about to pass u
De the bnlwarks and safeguards Of IN
>>~.~~~-~.~~~-~~-~~-~-~-~
inadequate.