The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-25
OBJECTIONS To FEDERAL
SUPERVISION.

Quite number of papers which are loud
est in their denunciation of trusts are
quick to oppose the proposition to so
amend the Constitution as to give Congress
power to legislate for the control of cor
porations which do an interstate business.
One class OF papers opposes the proposition
because 1t would be impossible to get such
a measure through Congress by two
thirds vote of both branches. and that II,
by any extraordinary circumstance. IL
should get through Congress. such an
amendment would not receive the ratifica-
ton of three-fourths of the State Legisla-
lures. One paper declares that no Legisla-
ture in manufacturing State Of the North
would ratify such an amendment because
the trusts are so powerful in such States
that they could prevent it. That is. the
people of large number Of States care so
little for the trusts that they would not
turn them over TO the federal government
for proper control This is equivalent TO
declaring that the people of the country
cannot be made to believe that they are in
any danger of being enslaved by manufac-
turing and transportation combinations.
Having made such a confession the papers
that raise objections should cease to use
display type to emphasize the dangers
which the trust involves.
Several Southern papers have raised the
cry that the taking of the power from the
States to deal with trusts would be dam
gerous extension Of the power of the gen
eral government. The Richmond (Va.)
Times is greatly alarmed at the PROPOSE
ton. 1t declares that "the cause for which
the South fought is lost indeed" If the SOW
ereignty of the States is to be taken from
them by such an amendment to the Consti-
tuition, and that the Presidents suggestion
is pushing the country toward the Hamil-
ton idea of q centralized government" 1t
declares that Mr. Roosevelt lis the most
dangerous type Of ultra Republican" and
that "hs and his intimates would send this
rough-riding to It's ruin" The Virginia pa
per sees the ghost of imperialism in the
proposition Just as those who opposed the
ratification Of the present Constitution saw
In the proposition to give the United States
Jurisdiction over. interstate commerce the
destruction Of the sovereignty of the
States.
II the Richmond Times and other papers
of the South should give the real reasons
for their opposition to the proposition to
give Congress the power to regulate inter-
state corporations, would they not be differ
ent from those based upon the fear of de-
priving the States of sovereignty? Would
not their reason be that they object to hav-
ing Congress make uniform factory laws for
all the States, prohibiting the employment
OF child labor in factories and putting the
cotton and other manufacturing industries
on the same basis as those of the North
The long hours of labor in factories and
the unrestricted privilege of employing
children are sending cotton manufacturers
| TO the South; is 1t not possible that the real
reason for Southern hostility to federal
| control is that federal laws would impose
| the same restrictions to hours and child
labor that prevail in nearly all Northern
| States?
| These papers referred to have but one
| remedy for dealing with the trusts, and
that is to repeal or nullify protective
tariff. so that our markets will be open to
the combinations of Great Britain and Ger
many. Then will follow international
| trusts, the first result of which will be to
bring the standard of American wages
A fot hat Of