The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-01-29
NO NOVEL OR SWEEPING MEAS.
URES ARE NECESSARY IN
DEALING WITH THE lNTRl.
CATE NATTER.
NO DESIRE TO UNSETTLE
BUSINESS, SAYS PRESIDENT
Programme OF Executive Founded On
Common Conviction That "Pri.
vate Monopoly is lndefensible
and lntolerable"-Rec-
ommenc atoms.

ommenc atoms.
Washington, Jan. 20. 49, President
Woodrow Wilson read his special
message dealing with the trust ques-
ton before the members of congress
today.
The Message In Full.
Gentlemen of the Congress-: In my
report ION the state of the union.
which I had the privilege of reading
to you on the second of December.
last. ventured to reserve for discus.
sion at later date the subject Of ad.
ditional legislation regarding the very
difficult and intricate matter of trusts
and monopolies. 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 he
clearing about us with singular rapid.
ity in this other great field of action.
Currency Field Cleared.
In the matter of the currency 1t
cleared suddenly and very happily. af-
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 ard main
tatned. It seems to he coming to a
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
upon with confidence and without con.
fusion OF counsel
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
so much refreshment is matter of sin.
cere congratulation. 1t ought to make
our task very much less difficult and
embarrassing than it would have been
had we been obliged to continue tn
act amidst the atmosphere of suspicion
and antagonism. which has so long
made it Impossible to approach such
questions with dispassionate fairness.
Legislation is a business of interpre.
tatlon not of Origination: and 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. It has clarified it.
self by long contest and those who
for a long time battled with it and
sought to change it are now frankly
and honorably yielding tn 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 ef.
fective maintenance and development
ct the vast business processes of the
country in the modern circumstances
Of trade and manufactu 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
and the ways of success as we'll; 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 any
sense to put it under the han The
antagonism between business and gov
eminent is over. We are now about
to 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 ana the law.
The best informed men of the bust.
ness world condemn the methods and
processes and consequences of mo-
nopoly as we condemn them: and the
instructive judgment of the vast ma
]ority 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 it
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