The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-01-20
TRUST MESSAGE READ
BY THE PRESIDENT

his declaration for tho creation Of an
industrial commission. He declared
that public opinion has finally con-
quered big business SO that the aver
age business man IL now convinced
that the ways Of liberty are also the
ways OF peace and are also the ways
OF success
The president said:
Gentlemen of the congress-:
'In my report on the state OF the
union which / had the privilege OF
reading to you on the second Of Decem-
Der last, ventured to reserve for dis
cussion at a 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 currency legislation
which absorbed your attention and
tnes attention of the country in Decem-
ber is now disposed Of but also be
cause opinion seems to be clearing
about us with singular rapidity in this
other great field of action. In the
matter of the currency, 1t cleared sud-
denly and very happily after the
much debated act was passed; in re-
spect 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 AL
but universal argument In antfcipa-
tion Of our action. as II by way Of
preparation, making the way easier to
see and easier to set out upon with
confidence and without confusion of
counsel.
Legislation has its atmospere like
everything else, and the atmosphere
OF accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
so much refreshment Is matter of
sincere congratulatien. It ought to
make our task very much less difficult
and embarrassing than 1t would have
been had We been Obliged 70 continue
to act amidst an atmosphere OF suspi-
cion and antagonism which has 30
long made it impossible to approach
such questions with dispassionate
fairness. With legislative construc-
tion when successful, is always the en-
bodiment OF convincing experience
and OF the mature public opinion
which finally springs out Of that ex-
perience. Legislation is business of
Interpretation, not Of origination;
and 1t is now plain what the opinion
is to which We must give to effect this
matter. 1t is not recent or hasty opin-
ion. 1t springs out of the experience
Of whole generation. 1t Eas clarifl-
ed itself by long contest, and those
who for long time battled with 1t
and sought to change it, are now
frankly and honorably yielding TO 1t
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
every day transactions. have year af
ter year, until now either denied It's
existence or justified it as necessary
effective maintenance and develop
ment Of the vast business process OF
the country; but all the while opinion
has made headway against them. The
average business man is convinced
that the ways of liberty are also the
ways of peace and the ways of success
as we'll; and at last the matters OF
business on the great scale have be
gun to yield their preference and pur
pose, perhaps their judgment also, IL
honorable surrender.
What we are proposing to do
therefore, is happily not to hamper
or interfere with business as enlight
ened business men prefer to do 1t OF
in any sense put 1t under the ban
The antagonism between business ant
government is over. We are about tt
give expression to the best business
Judgment of America to what We
know to be business conscience and
honor OF the land. The government,
and business men are ready to meet
each other half way in common eff
fort to square business methods with
both public opinion and the law. The
CONTINUED on page 81