The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-01-30
Great Throng Listens to
Presidents Address.
Plans to End Trusts Punish Men, Not
Business Declares Enforcement OF
Strict Amendments Possible.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 2O-Presl-
dent Wilson personally laid before q
Joint session of congress today the
fundamental principles of the Demo-
cratic administrator program Tor
dealing with trusts and "big bust
ness" The President presented the
case, he said, "as it lies in the thought
of the country" reiterating tnat
private monopoly is indefenslbie ana
intolerable, and declaring that con-
scientious business men throughout
the nation would not be satisfied until
practices now deprecated by pubic
opinion as restraints of trade and COM
nerce were corrected. The President
spoke as follows:
"1n nv report ON the state Of the
unfon.' which I had the privilege u
reading to you on the second OF Decem-
sion at a later date the subject OF ado1-
tional legisla ton regarding the very
difficult and intricate matter OF trusts
and monopolies. The time now seems
onnortune to turn to that great Ques-
ton. not only because the currency
LEGISLATION which absorbed your atten-
ton and the attention OF the country III
December. is now disposed o. ". aso -
because opinion seems to pc cieaIins
about us with singular rapid1ty In THIS
other great field Of action. In the mat
fer of the currency 1t cleared suddenly
and very happily after the mucn oepat-
ed act was passed; in respect OF the
monopolies which have multiplied ABOUT
us and in regard to the various means
maintained, it seems to be coming to q
clear and all but universal agreement
in authorization Of our action, as II Dy
way of preparation, making the way
easier to see and easier to set out on
with confidence and without CONFUSION
Of counsel. .
IegisIation has its atmosphere ike
everything else and the atmosphere OF
accommodation and mutual understand
mo which we now breathe with SO
much refreshment is a matter OF SIN
cere congratulation. 1t ought to make
our task very much less difficult ano
embarrassing than it would have been
had we been obliged to continue to acl
amidst the atmosphere Of suspicion ano
antagonism which has so long made II
impossible to approach such questions
with dispassionate fairness. Construc-
tive legislation, when successful, Is al
WAYS the embodiment of convincing ex-
perience and Of the mature public opln-
ion which finally springs out OF tina,
experience. Legislation is business OF
Interpretation, not Of originat1on, and II
is now plain what the opinion Is to
which we must give effect in this mat
ter. It is not recent or hasty opinion
1t springs out Of the experience OF q
whole generation. 1t has clarified Itself
bv long contest, and those who Tor q
long time battled with 1t and sought
to change it are now frankly and hon
orably yielding to 1t and seeking &c
conform their actions to 1t.
1.-THE great business men 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 ef'
fective maintenance and development
of the vast business processes OF thu
country with modern circumstances o.
trade and manufacture and finance
but all the while opinion has made head
against them. The average business
man is convinced that the ways of lib
erty are also the ways OF peace ane
the ways of success as well and at las
the masters of business on the grea'
scale have begun to yield their prefer
ence and purpose, perhaps their judg
ment also, in honorable surrender.
What we are purposing to do. there
fore, is happily not to hamper or in
terfere with business as enlightened
business men prefer to do 1t. or in an,
sense to put 1t under the ban. The an
tagonism between business and gov
eminent is over. We are now about t
give expression to the best business
judgment of America. to what WI
know to be the business conscience ant
honor Of the law. The government ant
business men are ready to meet eacl
other half way in a common effort t.
square business methods with both pub
lie opinion and the law. The best-in
formed men Of the business world con
denim the methods and processes ant
consequences Of monopoly as we con
denim them. and the instructive judg
ment Of the vast majority of business
shall now be their spokesman. That Il
the strength Of our position and tn
sure prophecy Of what will ensue whel
our reasonable work is done.
When serious contest ends, whel
men unite in opinion and purpose, thos
who are to change their ways of bust
ness joining with those who ask TO
the change, it Is possible to effect it II
the way then which prudent an,
thoughtful and patriotic men woul'
wish to see 1t brought about, with a
Few. as slight, as easy and simpl
business readjustments as possible Il
the circumstances, nothing essentia
disturbed. nothing torn up by the roots
no parts rent asunder, which can be lef
In wholesome combination Fortunatel
no measures Of sweeping or move
change are necessary. 1t will be under