The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-01-23
PRESIDENT WOULD BAR CONCERNS BEING
INTERESTED In BUSINESS OF COMPETITORS

his message on the trust question, ad-
dressed personally to joint session
OF congress. said
Gentlemen Of the Congress In my
report ION the State Of the Union"
which had the privilege Of reading
10 you on the I'd OF December last, /
vcntured to reserve for discussion at
II later date the subject Of additional
legislation regarding the very graph.
ical and intricate matter Of trusts and
monopoles. The time now seems OPP
perfume to turn to that great ques-
ton: not only because the currency
legislation which absorbed your atten-
ton and due attention OF the country
In December Is now disposed OF, but
also because opinion seems to be
clearing about us with singular rapid
ity In this other great field of action.
/ In the matter Of the currency IL
| cleared suddenly and very happily
/ after the much.debated act was
/ passed; in respect to the monopolies
/ which have multiplied about MS, and
| in regard to the various means by
/ which they have been organized and
/ maintained, II seems TO be coming to
a clear and all but universal agree
/ ment In anticipation Of our action, as
| II by way OF preparation, making the
| way easier 10 see and easier TO set
cut upon with confidence and without
confusion OF counsel.
Masters Of Business Yield.
The great business men who or.
ganized and financed monopoly, and
those who administered Il in actual
everyday transactions have year aft
or year. until now. either denied its
existence or justified 1t aa necessary
for the effective maintenance and de
yclopment Of the vast business
processes OF the country In the mod
crn circumstances OF trade and manu-
luCturC and finance; but all the while
opinion has made Roadway against
them The average business 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 the great scale
have begun to yield their preference
and purpose perhaps their Judgment
also IN honorable surrender.
We are all agreed that private mo
nopOly is iudefensible and intOlCra-
bic" and our program is founded
upon that conviction 1t will be a
comprehensive but not a radical or
unacceptable program. and these are
u.s. items, the changes which opinion
deliberately sanctions and for which
business waits.
Favors Fair Competition.
1t waits with acquiosconce, IN the
first place. for laws which will effec.
t"Glly prohibit and prevent such inter.
lock!ags OF the personnel Of the d.
rcctorates Of great corporations --
banks. railroads. industrial. CONNER
cial and publicservicc bodies rs In
effect result in making those who Dor.
row and those who lend practically
one and the same, those who sell and
those who buy but the same persons
trading with one another under differ
cnt names and in different Combina.
tons, and those who affect to com
pete IN fact partners and masters Of
some whole field Of business, Stuff.
cient time should be allowed, OF
course, in which to effect these
changes of organization without in
convenience or confusion.
To Regulate Financing Of Railroads,
L., ala lngtpR1a IN
as well as those who direct public af.
fairs now recognize, and recognize
with painful clcarness, the great harm
and injustice which has been done to
many, II not all. of the great railroad
systems of the country by the way In
which they have been financed and
their own distinctive interests subOT.
dinated to the interests Of the men
who financed them and OF other ousi.
ness enterprises which those men
wished to promote. The country Is
ready therefore, to accept, and nc.
cept with relief as well as approval, 4
law which will confer upon the inter
state commerce commission the
power to superintend and regulate the
financial operations by which the rail.
roads are henceforth TO be supplied
with the money they need for their
proper development to meet the rap
idly growing requirements OF the
country for increased and improved
facilities OF transportation.
We cannot postpone action In this
matter without leaving the railroads
exposed to many serious handicaps
and hazards; and the prosperity OF
the railroads and the prosperity Of the
country are inseparably connected,
Upon this question those who are
chiefly responsible for the actual man.
agement and operation of the rail
roads have spoken very plainly and
very earnestly, with a purpose we
ought TO be quick TO accept. 1t will
be one step, and very important one,
toward the necessary separation OF
the business of production from the
business OF transportation
More Explicit Laws Required.
The business OF the country awaits
~s~e~~~e.~S~~~~~~~~s~~ ~~N~~~~~N~~~S~~~S
Daily Thought.
Part OF our good consists In the en-.