The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-01-28
BUSINESS NOT TO !
Be HAMPERED,
SAYS WILSON
President Outlines Plan for Regu-
Iation of Trusts.
SQUARE BUSINESS WITH LAW
Explicit Definition Of the Policy and
Meaning Of Existing Lawn 10 Of First
Observation-Disclosures Between
Business and Government.
10 Now Over.

Washington, Jan. 20 President
Wilson delivered the following mes
sage today before joint session of
the two houses Of congress:
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 Deem
Der last, / ventured to reserve for
discussion 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 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. In the matter of the currency
1t cleared suddenly and very happily
after the much-debated act was
passed; in respect to the monopolies
which have multiplied about us and in
regard to the various means by which
they have been organized and main
tained, 1t seems to be coming to
clear and all but universal agreement
In anticipation Of our action. as II by
the way Of preparation, making the
way easier to see and easier to set
out upon with confidence and without
confusion of counsel.
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 sim
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 to
act amidst the atmosphere Of suspi-
cion and antagonism which has so
long made 1t 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
islation is business Of Interpretation,
not Of origination; and 1t is now plain
what the opinion is to which we must
give effect in this matter. It Is not re-
cent or hasty opinion. 1t springs out
of the experience Of a whole genera
ton. 1t has clarified itself by long
contest, and those who for long time
battied with 1t and sought to change
it are now frankly and honorably
yielding to 1t and seeking to conform
their actions to 1t.
THE great businessmen who organ
lied and financed monopoly and those
who administered 1t In actual every
day transactions have year after year.
until now, either denied its existence
or justified 1t as necessary for the ef-
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
businessman is convinced that the
ways Of liberty are also the ways Of
peace and the ways Of success as
well; and at last the masters of bust
ness on the great scale have begun to
yield their preference and purpose,
perhaps their judgment also. in honor
able surrepder.
VIII Not Hamper.
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 1t under the ban. The
antagonism between business and gov
eminent Is. over. We are now about
to give expression to the best business
Judgment of America. to what we
know to be the business conscience
and honor of the land. The govern