The Washington herald., 1914-01-21
Legislation IS INTERPRETATION,
NOT ORIG|NATION, SAYS wilson
Our Object Is Not to Unsette Business or Break Its Es
tablished Course, but to Safeguard 1t Against
Forces that Have Disturbed It"
President Wilson'S message in full. fol-

President Wilson's message in full fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In my report on "the state of the
Union" which had the privilege OF
reading to you on the I'd OF December
last I ventufed to reserve for discussion
at = later date the subject Of additional
Legislation regarding the very dimcult ana
intricate matter of trusts and monopolies.
The time now seems opportune to turn
to that great question; not only because
the currency legislation, which absoroed
your attention and the attention OF the
country in December, 10 now disposed
OF, but also because opinion seems 70
be clearing about us with singular rap
sdity In this other great field OF action
In the mattery OF the currency It
cleared suddenly and very happily after
the much-debated act was passed; IN
respect of the monopolies which have null
tiplied about us and in regard to the va
rious means by which they have been Or
ganized and maintained 1t seems to be
coming to clear and all but universal
agreement in anticipation of our action,
as II by way of preparation, making the
way easier to see and easier to set out
upon with confidence and without con-
fusion of counsel.
Makes Task Less Dimcult.
Legislation has its atmosphere like ev-
erything else, and the atmosphere of ac-
commodation and mutual understanding
which we now breathe with SO much re-
freshment is matter OF sincere congrat-
ulation. 1t ought to make our task very
much less difficult and embarrassing than
1t would have been had we been obliged
to continue to act amidst the atmosphere
Of suspicion and antagonism which has
1@r.r a. n,l.
such questions with dispassionate fair
ness.
Constructive legislation, when success
full, is always the embodiment Of con-
vincing experience, and of the mature
public opinion which finally springs out
of that experience. Legislation is a busi-
ness of Interpretation, not of origination;
and it 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 a whole
generation. 1t has clarified itself by long
contest, and those who for long time
battled with it and sought to change 1t
are now frankly and honorably yielding
to it and seeking to conform their ac-
tions to it.
The great business men who organized
and financed monopoly and those who
administered il in actual everyday trans
actions have year after year, until now.
either denied its existence or justified it
as necessary for the effective mainte
nance and development of the vast bust
ness processes of the country in the mod
ern circumstances of trade and manufac-
ture and finance: but all the while opin-
ion has made head against them. The
average business man is convinced that
the ways Of 1iberty-are also the ways of
peace and the ways of success as well;
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.
What we are purposing to do. therefore.
is, happily, not to hamper or interfere
with. business-ass enlightened business
men prefer to do do it, 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 business judgment of America. to
what We know to be the business con-
science and honor of the land.
VIII BE Met Half Way.
The government and business men
are ready to meet each other half way