River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-29
WILSON ON TRUSTS
Tho President Outlines Legislative
Policy of the Admins
tration.
WILL NOT HAMPER BUSINESS
Programme of Executive Founded On
Common Conviction That "Pri-
vatc Monopoly is IndefensibIe
and Intolerabe."

Washington, Jan. 20 President
Woodrow Wilson read his speclal
message dealing with the trust ques-
ton before the members Of congress
today.
The Message IL Full.
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 December
last, l ventured to reserve for discus
sion at later date the subject OF al
ditional legislation regarding the very
difficult and intricate matter OF trusts
and monopelies. The time now seems
opportune to turn to that great ques-
ton; not only because the currency
legislation, which absorbed your at
tention and the attention OF the coun-
try in December, is now disposed OF,
but also because opinion seems to be
clearing about us with singular rapid
fly in this other great field OF action.
Mutual Understanding Urged.
Legislation has it's atmosphere, like
everything else, and the atmosphere
of accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
30 much refreshment is matter of sim
cere congratulation It ought to make
our task very much less difficult and
embarrassing than 1t would have been
had we been obliged to continue to
act amidst the atmosphere Of suspicion
nh or Ion o.
made it impossible to approach such
questions with dispassionate fairness.
Legislation is a business of interpre-
tation not Of originatiOn; and it is
now plain what the opinion is to which
we must give effect in this matter. 1t
is rot recent or hasty opinion. It
springs out of the experience of a
whole generation. It has clarified it
self by long contest and those who
for long time battled with it and
sought to change it are now frankly
and honorably yielding to it and seek
ing TO conform their actions to it.
The great business men who organ
lied and financed monopoly and those
who administered it in actual every
day transactions have year after year.
until now, either denied it's existence
or justified it as necessary for the eff
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 made
head against them. The average bust
ness man is convinced that the ways
OF liberty are also the ways of peace
AID the ways of success as well; and
at last the masters of business on a
great scale have begun to yield their
preference and purpose, perhaps their
judgment also in honorable surrender.
Would Not Hamper Business.
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 it, or in anv
sense to put it under the ban. The
antagOnism between business and gov
eminent is over. We are now about
10 give expression to the best bust
ness judgment of America, to what
we know to be the business conscience
and heart of the land The govern
ment and business men are ready to
meet each other half way in a com
mon effort to square business methods
with both public opinion and the law.
The best informed men of tie bust
ness world condemn the methods and
processes and consequences of mo-
nOnOlNE u.
instructive judgment of the vast ma
1ority of business men everywhere
goes with them We shall now be
their spokesman. That is the strength
of our position and the sure prophecy
OF what will ensue when our reason.
able work is done.
Seeks Prudent Disposition.
When serious contest ends, when
men unite in open and purpose. those
who are to change their ways of bust
ness, joining with those who ask for
the change, it is possible to effect If
in the way in which prudent and
thoughtful and patriotic men would
wish to see it brought about. with as
few, as slight, as easy and simple
business establishments as possible in
the circumstances; nothing essential
disturbed, nothing torn up by the
roots, no parts rent asunder which
can be left in wholesome combination.
fortunately no measures of sweeping
or novel change are necessary. 1t
Will be understood that our object is
not to unsettle business or anywhere
seriously to break its established
courses athwart. On the contrary we
desire the laws we are now about TO
pass TO be the bulwarks and safe
guards of industry against the forces
that have disturbed it. What we have
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