Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1902 — CROWDS GREET NATION'S CHIEF [ARTICLE]

CROWDS GREET NATION'S CHIEF

President Speaks to Big Audiences in the State of Maine, MUST REACH TRADECOMBINES Subject Should Not Bo Approached In Spirit of Hostility, But With a Desire to Do What Is Best for the Whole People. Ellsworth, Me., dispatch: The President’s second day in the Pine Tree State was full of interest. Starting from the governor’s residence at an early hour, he was taken for a short drive about the city of Augusta, and at 9:30 o’clock left there for Bangor, where the principal speech of the day was delivered at the fair grounds in the presence of a large audience, which listened with marked attention to his address. The President confined himself to a discussion of the duties of good citizenship and did not touch upon national affairs. General Holiday. The same close attention was given him at Waterville, where from far and near came hundreds to see and hear the first President who had visited Maine in many years. In anticipation of his coming a general holiday was declared and all business was suspended. Senator Hale, Congressmen Littlefield, Powers and others were with the President during his stay in Bangor. On the drive through the city the President’s carriage was stopped in front of the portico of the orphans’ home, where the little ones were assembled, and they greeted him in song. Discusses Combines. At Ellsworth the President discussed the subject of industrial combines, saying in part: “I want to see the knife used to cut out any evil, but I want to see it used so that it will be more dangerous to the disease than to the patient. You can perfectly well reduce the prosperity of the trusts by reducing the prosperity of everybody. In 1893 no trusts flourished—nothing flourished. But we want to devise some methods by which we can minimize any evil they do without interfering with the general prosperity which is a benefit to all. We wish to avoid trying any solution of the problem which would involve us all in a common disaster — a disaster that would be felt most severely by those least well off in the world’s goods. Law Must Reach All. “On the one hand I believe that the men of great means should understand that when we demand some method of asserting the power of the nation over all corporations, we are acting not against their interest, but in their Interest. “When we make the law obeyed by the man of means we are not acting against him; we are acting for him. His safety lies in the law, and the worst of all possible lessons to teach would be to teach our people as p whole that the law did not reach him. It must reach him to make him obey it, exactly as it reaches him to protect him from the wrong-doing of others. Not Against Wealth. “On the one hand, let men of great wealth realize that in seeking for this remedy we are both unalterably bent upon finding it and are doing it in no spirit of hostility to them, but in a spirit to find out what is best for them and for all of us alike.” The President dined here at the home of Senator Hale, who accom panied the party from Bangor. At the depot when the train pulled in the President was escorted to a platform near by and delivered a short address. He left at 10 o’clock for Nashua, N. H., and other points in that state.