The Topeka state journal., 1905-09-13

and Lose the Common People?'
THE Democrats of the south greet
their Democratic brethren of the coun-
try and beg for harmony--the harmony
that shaketh it's hands from the hold
ing of briber' the harmony that
'stoppeth its ears from hearing of blood
and shutteth its eyes from seeing evir-
for we are promised that those who
keep this faith shall dwell on high, the
place of defense shall be the munitions
of rocks We call with this motto for
one who marshalled back to his banner
the mightiest army of unbought free
men that ever marched to the ballot
box, not one of whom were fattening
by unjust laws. Kentucky. whose Dem
ocracy has been tried in blood, declares
that with the passing of years her love
grows greater for Bryan. Bryant
Judge Tarvin Declares for Bryan.
In a brief address, Judge B. Tarvin,
of Covington, KY, declared for Mr..
Bryan as the standard bearer of Dem
ocracy in 1908. He brought out great
burst of applause when he said:
You will look FOR a man who stands
for something, and viii adopt the plat
form that can bear only one construc-
ton. It win be a Democratic platform
as Democracy is constructed to be, by
an overwhelming majority of those who
claim to be within the party. Who will
it be? 1 say that we want a man who
can win. We will allow no personal
feeling or regard to influence. There
can be only one answer. William J.
Bryan has been through the fiery fur
mace again and again. AS result he
stands today, twice defeated for tie
presidency, the foremost in America
Mr.. Bryan then rose to speak. He
was greeted with an enthusiastic dem
onstration and it was some minutes
before the applause subsided sufficient
ly for him to proceed. He spoke on
Democracy VS.. Capitalization" his
speech being in part, as follows:
MIR. Bryan's Platform.
Just now public attention is being
directed to the encroachmentS of great
corporations on the rights of the people
and the discussion of remedies reveals
the fact that among those who really
desire effectively to restrain corpora
tionS there are two elementS-thoSe VINO
desire to enlarge the scope of federal
government and those who desire to
preserve the integrity and authority of
the several states. I invite your atten-
ton to this subject because it is likely
to be the rock on which honest reform
ers will split unless there is a clear un-
derstanding of the situation. The JEFF
fersonian Democrat would not take from
the federal government any power nee
essary to the performance of its legiti-
mate duties, but he recognizes that the
consolidation of all the government at
Washington would be a menace to the
safety of the nation and would endan-
ger the perpetuity of the republic. While
the advocate of Capitalization is urging
legislation which obliterates state lines
and removes the government from con-
troll of voters, the monopoliSt may, on
the other hand, hide behind the Demo-
cratic theory of self-goveEnment and
use this theory to prevent national leg
islation which may be necessary.
Life Insurance.
1.-The investigation of the large life in
surance companies has led to the dis
SSin of national remedies and the
of Capitalization are likely to
seize upon this agitation as an excuse for
legislation which will take the business
of life insurance out cf the hands or tne
various states The Democrats should
draw a distinction between federal leg
isIation which is supplemental to state
legislation and that form of federal leg
islation which would substitute ma
tional for a state remedy. NO natlonai
charter should be granted to an insur-
ance company and no federal supervis-
ion should interfere with the exercise OF
the power now vested in the states 20
supervise companies doing business IN
such states.
so in devising a remedy for the
trusts, the Democratic party shouio
resolutely oppose every effort to au-
thorize national incorporation or char
tering of trading or manufacturing
Congress has control over
interstate commerce; but to control in
terstate commerce, it is not necessary
that it should create corporations that
can override state laws. The Demo-
cratic national platform of 1900 pro-
posed a national remedy for the trusts
entirely consistent with the preserva-
ton of state remedies. 1t suggested
license system-the license to permit a
to do business outside of
the state of its origin, upon compliance
with the conditions of the license, but
the license would not permit 1t to DO
business in any other state except on
compliance with the conditions prov1d-
ed by the state. In other words, 1t
would be such a license as is now
granted for the sale of liquor. When |
a federal license is issued for the sale
of liquor, it does not carry with 1t any
immunity from the laws of the state in
which the licensee lives. The same !
reasoning should be applied to the in
question and to all other ques- |
tions which involve remedial leg1sla-
tion.
should be permitted to impair the pow |
er of the various states over business |
lone within their borders under the pre- |
tense that it is necessary to transfer |
The power to the national capital and |
no Democrat should oppose necessary |
federal legislation when the powers OF |
the several states are properly safe |
guarded. It is possible to preserve in
full force the power Of both the fed
sral government and the state govern |
ment. It is only necessary that the |
legitimate functions of the two govern |
ments shall be clearly recognized and |
their spheres duly respected.
Initiative and Referendum.
''I have mentioned only the ques- |
ton of insurance and the trust ques- |
ton, but there are many subjects |
which involve the issue between |
Democracy and Capitalization. 1t is |
natural that the Democratic party |
should advocate the election of SEN |
ators by direct vote of the people, |
for this reform would remove a bar
rier erected between the people and |
their representatives in the senate. |
This proposition was a compromise |
between those who trust the people |
and those who still doubted the ca
pacity of the people for self-govern-
ment. There is no longer reason for
doubt and experience shows that the |
United States senate has become the |
bulWark of cornorate interests