The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-12-22
FEDERAL SUPERVISION.

FEDERAL SUPERVISION.
Theodore Roosevelt seems to be daft
on the subject OF Federal supervision
The expression itself glistens i'm hi.
eyes as a panacea for an political and
economic evils, as il does i'm the eyes
OF thousand, of men who are not con-
tent 10 Try the present laws, but wish
20 fly into the all-ab,orbing arms OF
the Fedora. government.
A stream cannot rise higher than
it- source. Federal supervisors will
not supervise beyond the wishes and
viii of their creators. 1t is too patent
TO need argument that the railroads
aud insurance companies are too ac-
tive i'm attempting 10 dominate the
Republican and Democratic parties,
both I'm state and National politics.
VIII it not be much easier for unscrup-
ulous corporations TO control public
affairs at Washington than 10 do so
in each state?
The entire country is today shocked
and outraged at the disclosures Of
corruI ton i'm some of the leading in
surance companies. Aside from the
exposure OF graft and Of the brazen
theft of the money Of policy holders,
an even more heinous revelation is the
fact that these insurance companies
have contributed large sums to aid in
the elections of Mckinley and Roose-
welt.
No doubt a complete exposure
would show that the Democratic par
~ also has had an Outstretched hand
growing from the small Of its back
Such expenditures from the funds Of
widows and orphans poison the very
springs of government How can
federal supervision help the natter
Every thinking man knows that a
political party, placed in power at
Washington by the aid of large sums
contributed 10y insurance companies,
will, and must, listen 10 the contribu-
tors when supervisors are appointed.
Some of the railroads have their attor-
neys or stockholders or owners i'm the
United States Senate now. The Presi-
dent of one large insurance company is
a United States Senator, and he, mark |
it, is earnestly and persistently adj
yising Federal supervision, Thos. F. !
Ryan, who practically controls anoth-
or large company also favors it, We
fear these Greeks bearing their gifts.
Here, then, is the spectacle we are
asked 10 observe, applaud, and en-
lorse: a President believing that
everything governmental, tariff, rail- !
roads, insurance companies, labor |
unions, strikes, and what not, can be /
and their evils cured, by /
centralized, Federal committees;
president Of a large insurance COM
lany, who is also a United States
senator, insisting that Roosevelt is
light in so far as insurance is con-
,erned; aud every socialist i'm the
COUNTRY patting himself on the back
hat things are coming his way with
tartling rapidity.
Since when did the States of the
United States show themselves hope
essly incompetent 10 manage their
'wn affairs? Has not Missouri, for
shown herself capable Of
egulating governmental evils with
nat appealing TO the Federal govern
nent? Has not Wisconsin shown her
over? II not New York or Virginia
T North Carolina just as competent
nd just as apt TO place the officers Of
ome insurance companies behind the
ars and put the latest style Of convict
lothing on them, if they go wrong, as
he Federal government? The plain
lct is, we are ceasing TO be the United ,
tates Of America and are fast becom-
ig the American Union, with all
overs centralized.
1t takes neither prophet nor the
On OF one TO foresee that two things
lust result from Federal supervision
railroads, telegraph and telephone
mes, and insurance companies, /
allure 10 supervise, and then Federal q
wnership. For our part we should 81
refer TO see the Federal government
WIN these utilities rather than see :
iem own the government. But why :
ther alternative? Let us have, first,
roper State supervision, with ade-
late powers given TO and retained by S
he state. II that fails, let us have S
tate ownership, without State opera 81
on. II that fails, let us have state
guership and operation When all b
his has failed, it will be time enough
give up our rights of self-govern-
ent confess our inability to regu-
te our own affairs, and hand over I
lr magma charta 10 the Federal gov
nment
am OF the Democratic Congressional