Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-01-22

Gentlemen of the congress:
I'm my report ON the State of the
Union which l had the privilege OF
reading to you on the 1st OF Decem-
Der last, ! ventured TO reserve for
discussion at later date the subject
of additional Legislation regarding the
very difiicult and intricate matter OF
trusts and monopolies. The time now
seems opportune 10 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.
Business of Interpretation.
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 II would have been
had we been obliged TO continue to
act amidst the atmosphere of suspi-
cion and antagonism which has so
long made it 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. 1t is not re-
| cent or hasty opinion.
The great businessmen who organ
lied and financed monopoly and those
who administered it In actual every
day transactions have year after year
until now, either denied its existence
or justified it as necessary for the eff
fective maintenance and development
Of the vast business processes of the
country I'm 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
we'll; a"d 3t last the masters OF busi-
ness on the great scale have begun TO
yield their preference and purpose,
perhaps their judgment also, in honor
| able surrender
Will Not Hamper.
What we are purposing 20 do. there
fore is happily not to hamper or in.
terfere With business as enlightened
business men prefer to do 1t, or in any
sense to put it 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
ment and business men are ready to
meet each other half way in common
effort to square business methods with
both public opinion and law. The best
informed men of the business world
condemn the methods and processes
and consequences of monopoly as we
condemn them and the instructive
Judgment Of the vast majority Of bust
ness men everywhere goes with them.
We shall now be their spokesman.
when serious contest ends, when
men unite in opinion and purpose,
those who are to change their ways of
business, joining with those who ask
for the change, 1t is possible to effect
1t 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 bust
ness establishments as possible in the
circumstances, nothing essential dis
turbed, nothing torn up by the roots,
no parts rent asunder which can be
left in wholesome combination. For
tunately, no measures Of sweeping or
novel change are necessary 1t will be
understood that our object Ia not to
unsettle business or anywhere serious
ly to break its established courses
athwart On the contrary, we desire
the laws we are now about to pass to
be the bulwarks and safeguards Of in
duStry against the forces that nave
disturbed 1t. What we have to do can
be done In a new spirit, in thoughtful
moderation, without revolution OF an
untoward kind.
Private Monopoly Intolersbie
I'VE are all agreed that private
monopoly is indefensible and intoler-
able and our program is founded upon
that conviction. 1t will be a compre-
hensive but not radical or unaccept-
able program, and these are its items,
the changes which opinion deliberately
sanctions and for which business
waits.
1T awaits with acquiesence in the
first place for laws which will eff
fectuallv prohibit and prevent such
interlockings of the personnel Of the
directorates of great corporations
banks and railroads, industrial. COM
mercial and public service bodies-as
in effect result in making those who
hOrrnu op1 thDua xHbO land pro fipallV