The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-17
President
Socialism Advocated by President
Roosevelt.

Socialism Advocated by President
Roosevelt
Editor of Tho Times:
Sir,-The Outlook claims to print an
authorized edition of the Presidents re-
cent speeches. NOTICE The following e1-
tract:
But / believe that additional leGisia-
ton can be had, and l think we must
make up our minds to the fact that II II
proves evident that we cannot, under the
Constitution as it Is. give the national
administration sufficient power in
dealing with these great corporations
ti.en no matter what our reverence foi
the past, our duty to the present and the
future will force US to see that some
power has been conferred upon the ma
tional government and when that power
has been conferred it will rest with the
ma tional government to exercise it. AT
present we will do the best we can with
strawesS bricks but remember that II
is not our fault that they are strawless
If this does not mean socialism what
does il mean? 1t refers not only to
| trusts. but to all kinds of corporations
1t means that the power Of controlling
corporations must be taken away from
the States. It can have other mean
ing or signitication. What public man
has ever gone SO far before? Is it true
that the fatal bullet of the assassin that
struck down the sainted Mckinley vii
also strike down the liberties of oul
people? Does it mean that the govern
1nent shall control the railroads, the tel
esraphs. the steamboats,. the telephones
and the mighty army Of trusts7 The
President gave no limit to the power that
he would give the general government
It recalls with great emphasis to mind
-, !. 10 &c 80 NJ ter
Miller. uttered at the centennial OF tho
Federal Constitution in Philadelphia in
1857. wnen he said: prior to the wal
between the States of this Union the
pendulum had swung too far in the di
rection Of States rights. Now. said he
gentlemen. the danger Is that 1t will
swing too far the other way. l DO moi
pretend to use his exact language. but
know that l express his true meaning.
He feared Capitalization; he feared that
the result of the Civil War would give
too much power to the general govern
ment, and he was right.
Well do I recollect the same night In
Philadelphia that the great statesman.
the late John Randolph Tucker, in speak
ing Of 1t, said to the writer:
THESE are memorable words worthy
OF the man and worthy Of the occasion
The hour that the States give up theii
right to control corporations, that hour
sounds the knell of free institutions In
America The epitaph of republican gov
ernments will then be written. II Con
gress Is to be invested with this mighty
power, who is to control it? Does it re-
quire the ken of prophecy to foretell the
inevitable result? The President is the
commander-in-chief of the army and navy
of the United States of America, and 1t
is no empty honor. as recent events only
show too we'll. Look at the enforced re-
trement Of General Jacob Smith! Look
at the recent orders issued in the Phil
ippineB! Look at the secret service money
expended by General Leonard Wood In
Cuba to carry OCT the personal policy OF
the President and Elihu Root. his Sec.
rotary Of War. 1t has astounded me thai
this high handed action of General Wood,
the President and the Secretary of War
has received such mild criticism The
time has been when 1t would have stirred
the hearts Of our people from the pine
forests Of Maine to the waters of the
Rio Grand Del Mort. No President has
ever exercised the same power as Theo-
dore Roosevelt in the same length OF
time. challenge successful contro-
version of this statement. Whittier are
we drifting7 The danger of centralism
is real We are already in the rapids,
already WlINlH edISllOt VI tile Val VI eAis
cataract 1t Is high time to sound
word Of warning.
Our salvation and the preservation OF
our liberties lies in the conservatism Of
the Democratic party. The occasion has
come: the opportunity is ripe: all that
we lack Is leader. Will he come for
| ward? Time alone can tell.
CAMM PATTESON.
| Buckingham county. September 18th.