Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20


cooperative groups of individuals
Time to Talk Trusts,
President Wilson's address follows
IN fun
Gentlemen of the Congress.
In my report on the state Of the
Union which ] had the privilege Of
reading to you on the first Of Deem
her last ] Ventured 10 save for dis
cussion 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
renCN legislation, which absorbed
your attention and the attention Of
the country in December, is now dis
posed, but also because opinion APP
pears TO be clearing about us with
singular rapidtty in this other great
field OF action
In the matter OF the currency it
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
maintained ii SENS to be coming to
clear and all but universal agree
ment in anticipation of our action, a.
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.
Fair Legislation Made Easier.
Legislation has its atmosphere like
everything else and the atmosphere Of
accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
f...,. ~. -. -
sincere Congratulation. 1t ought to
make our task very much less diff
ficult and embarrassing than it would
have been had we been obliged to
continue to act amidst the atmos-
phere Of suspicion and antagonism
which has so long made II impossible
10 approach such questions with dis
passionate fairness, Constructive
legislation, when successful, is always
the embodiment OF convincing expe-
Renee and of mature public opinion
which finally springs out OF that ex-
perience,
Legislation is a business OF inter
probation. not of origination; and IT
is now plain what the opinion is to
which we must give effect in this
matter. 1t is not recent or hssty
opinion, II springs out OF the expe-
rience of a whole generation. II has
clarified itself by long contest. and
those who for a long time battled
with II and sought to change 1t are
now frankly and honorably Welding
10 It and seeking to conform their
actions to II.
Ways to Liberty Are Ways to Peace.
THE great business men who or
ganized and financed monopoly and
those who administered II in actual
everyday transactions have year after
year, until now, either denied its eN-
fstence or justified il as necessary
for the effective maintenance and de-
Velopment of the vast business pro-
cesses OF the country In the modern
circumstances OF trade and manufac-
ture and finance. but all the while
opinion has made head against them.
The average business man is con-
WINGED that the ways of liberty are
also the ways of peace and the ways
of success as well; and at last tho
masters of business on the great scale
have begun to yield their preference
and purpose, perhaps their judgment
also. i'm honorable surrender.
What we are purposing to do.
therefore. is happily not to hamper or
interfere with business as enlightened
business men prefer to do IL, or in any
sense to put II under the ban. The
antagonism between business and
government is over We are now
about to give expression to the best