Gubernatorial Messages 787 



of a business that are essentially private; but the 

 State for the protection of the public should exercise 

 the right to inspect, to examine thoroughly all the 

 workings of great corporations just as is now done 

 with banks ; and wherever the interests of the public 

 demand it, it should publish the results of its ex- 

 amination. Then, if there are inordinate profits, 

 competition or public sentiment will give the public 

 the benefit in lowered prices; and if not, the power of 

 taxation remains. It is therefore evident that pub- 

 licity is the one sure and adequate remedy which 

 we can now invoke. There may be other remedies, 

 but what these others are we can only find out by 

 publicity, as the result of investigation. The first 

 requisite is knowledge, full and complete. 



