The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-01-22
Wilson On the Trust Question
President Reads His Message to Congress Outlining the
Administrations Plans to Settle Troubles.

personally laid before joint session
OF congress on Tuesday, January 20
the fundamental principles of the
Democratic administration program
for dealing with trusts and big bust
ness" The president presented the
case, he said, as it lies in the
thought of the country" reiterating
that private monopoly is indefensible
and intolerable,' and declaring that
conscientious business men through
out the nation would not be satisfied
until practices now deprecated by
public opinion as restraints Of trade
and commerce were corrected.
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress: In
my report On the State of the
Union, which j had the privilege OF
reading to you on the 1st Of Decem-
ber last, l 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 dis
posed of, but also because opinion
seems to be clearing about us with
singular rapidity in this other great
field of action In the matter Of cur
rency it cleared suddenly and very
happily after the much debated act
was passed; in respect of the monop-
olies which have multiplied about us
in, nd To lA n1sff, 111faf @
by which they have been organized
and maintained, it seems to be com
ing to a clear and all but universal
agreement in anticipation of our ac
tion, as if by way of preparation
making the way easier to see and
easier to set out on with confidence
and without confusion OF counsel.
Legislation has its atmosphere
like everything else, and the atmos-
phere Of accommodation and mu
tual understanding which we now
breathe with so much refreshment is
a matter of sincere 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 suspicion and antagon-
ism which has SO long made it i'm
possible to approach such questions
with dispassicnate fairness. Con-
structive legislation, when success
ful, is always the embodiment Of con
vincing experience and of the ma
ture public opinion which finally
springs out Of that experience. Leg
islation is a business Of interpreta-
ton, 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. It
springs out of the experience of a
whole generation. 1t has. clarified it,
feif by long contest and those who
for a long time battled with it and
g. ught to change it are now frankly
end honorably yielding to it and
seeking to conform their actions to
1t.
Ways of Liberty, Ways of Peace.
"The great business men who or
fanized and financed monopoly and
those who administered it in actual
every day transactions have year af.
ter year. until now, either denied its
existence or justified it as necessary
for the effective maintenance and
of the vast business
of trade and manu-
facture and finance; but all the while
opinion has made head against them
The average business man is con
vinced 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.
What we are purposing to do
is, happily, not to hamper
or interfere with business as en-
lis htened business men prefer to DC
t, or in any sense to put it 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,
70 what we know to be the business
and honor of the law. The
government and business men are
ready to meet each other half way
N common effort to square business
with both public opinion and
he law. The best informed men OF
he business world condemn the
and processes and conse.
luences of monopoly as we condemn
hem; and the instructive judgment
If the vast majority Of business men
everywhere goes with them. We
'hall now be their spokesmen That
5 the strength Of our position and
he sure prophecy of what will en-
ue when our reasonable work il
lcne.
Safe and Sane Remedy.
when serious contest ends, wher
nen unite in opinion and purpose
hose who are to change their ways
If business joining with those who
SIX for the change, it is possible tc
fleet 1t in way in which prudent
nd thoughtful and patriotic mer
would wish to see it brought about
vish as few, as slight, as easy and
imple business readjustments as pcs
ible in the circumstances, nothing
essential disturbed, nothing torn III
" the roots, no parts rent asunder
which can be left in wholesome CON
Una ton. Fortunately. no measuret