Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-30

Gentlemen of the Congress: In my
report On the State Of the Union,
which had the privilege OF reading
to you on the I'd of December last,
ventured to reserve for discussion al
later date the subject Of additional
legislation regarding the very diff
cult and intricate matter Of trusts and
monopolies.
The time now seems opportune tc
turn to that great question-nct only
because the currency 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.
an the matter OF the currency ii
cleared suddenly and very happily al
ter the much-debated act was passed
in respect Of the monopolies which
have multiplied about us and in re-
gard to the various means by which
they have been organized and main
tanned. it seems to be coming to q
clear and all but universal agreement
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 without confu'
sion of counsel. ~.
LEGISLATIVE ATMOSPHERE
CLEAR.
Legislation has its atmosphere. like
everything else, and the atmosphere oil
accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
so much refreshment is matter oil
sincere congratulation. 1t ought tc
make our task very much less diff
cult and embarrassing than 1t would
have been had we been obliged tc
continue to act amidst the atmosphere
of suspicion and antagonism which
has so long made 1t impossible to ap'
preach such questions with dispas'
sionate fairness. -
Constructive legislation, when sue
cessful, is always the embodiment OF
convincing experience and OF mature
public opinion which finally springs
out of that experience. Legislation is
business of Interpretation, not OF
origination, aud it is now plain what
the opinion Is to which we must give
effect in this matter It is not recent
or hasty opinion. 1t springs out OF
the experience of a whole generation.
Il has clarified 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 it and seeking to conform their
action to IT. T.
WAYS or BUSINESS MEN. !
"The great business men who or
ganized and financed monopoly and
those who administered II in actual
every day transactions have year
after year until now either denied its
existence or justified II as necessary
for the effective maintenance and de-
vclopment Of the vast business pro-
cesses of the country in which mod
ern circumstances of trade and manu-
facture and finance; but all the while
opinion has made head against them.
'sThe average business man is con-
WINGED that the ways Of 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 yield their preference
and purpose, perhaps their Judgment
also, in honorable surrender.
HAND EXTENDED TO COMMERCE,
What we are purposing to do,
therefore, Is. happily. not to hamper
or interfere With business as enlight-
ened business men prefer to do it,
or in any sense to put 1t under the
ban. The antagonism between bust.
ness and government is over. We are
now about to give expression to the
best business Judgment Of America, to
what we know to be the business con-
science and heart 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 informed men of the bus
mess world condemn the methods and
processes and consequences Of mo-
nopoly as We condemn them, and the
instructive Judgment of the vast ma.