The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-21
President Wilson's Message to Congress on Trusts
We Jan Pop" Wilson personally laid before. joint aer" ye"'r-
Of
nd big business" Hn novv
Gentlemen of the congress:


In my report "On the State of
the Union which l had the privi-
lege Of reading to you on the 2pd
of December last. l vcntured to
reserve for discussion at later
date the subject Of additional leg
islation regarding the very diff
cult and intricate matters Of trusts
and monopolies. The time now
seems opportune 10 turn to that
great question-not only because
the currency legislation which alb
sorbed your attention and the at
tention of the country in December,
is now disposed of, but also because
opinion seems to be clearing about
us with singular rapidity in this
other great field Of action.
Clears as to Currency.
In the matter of the currency it
cleared suddenly and very happily
after the much debated act was
passed, in respect of the monopo-
lies which have multiplied about us
and in regard to the various means
by which they have been organized
and maintained, it seems to be COM
ing to clear and all but universal
agreement in anticipation of our
action, as If by way Of preparation.
making the way easier TO sec and
easier to set out on with confidence
and without confusion of counsel.
Legislation has its atmosphere
like everything else and the at.
mosphere of accommodation and
mutual understa anding which we
now breathe with so much refresh
ment is matter Of sincere con
graduation. II ought to make our
task very much less difficult and
embarrassing than it would have
been had we been obliged to CON
time to act amidst the atmosphere
Of suspicion and antagopism which
has so long made it impossible to
approach such questions with dis
passionate fairness. Constructive
legislation, when successful, is al
ways the embodiment of convincing
experience and of the mature pub
lie opinion, which finally springs
out Of that experience.
Business Of Interpretation.
Legislation is a business of in
depreciation, not Of origination,
and it is now plain what the opin-
ion is to which we must give effect
in this matter. 1t is not recent or
hasty opinion. It springs out Of
the experience of a whole genera
ton. 1t has clarified itself by long
contest and those who for a long
time battled with it and sought TO
change it are now frankly and hon
orably yielding to it and seeking to
conform their actions to it,
The great business men who or
ganized and financed monopoly and
those who administered il in actual
everyday transactions have year
after year, until now. either denied
its existence OF justified it as nee.
essary for the effective mainte-
nance and development of the vast
business processes of the country
in modern circumstances of
trade and manufacture and fin
ance: but all the while opinion has
made head against them. The aver
age business man is convinced that
the ways Of liberty are also the
ways of peace and the ways of sue
cess as well, and Mt last the masters
of business on the great scale have
begun to yield their preference and
purpose, perhaps their Judgment al
so, in honorable surrender.
Prediction for Future.
What we are purposing 10 do,
therefore. is, happily, not to hamper
or interfere with business as en-
hghtened business men prefer to do
it, or in any sense to put it under
the ban. The antagonism between
business and government is over.
We are now about to give expires
sion to the best business Judgment
OF America, to what we know to be
the business conscience and honor
of the land. The government and
business men are ready to meet
each other halfway in a common
effort TO square business methods
with both public opinion and the
law The best informed men of
the business world condemn the
methods and processes and conse-
quences of monopoly as we con-
denim them; and the instructive
judgment of the vast majority Of
business men everywhere goes with
them. We shall now be their
spokesmen. That is the strength OF
our position and the sure prophecy
OF what will ensue when our rea-