The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-09-16
Bryan's Chicago Speech.


Mr.. Bryan delivered an address
before the jefferson Club Of Chicago
Tuesday, in which he outlines bis
views as to the proper programme for
the democratic party In 1908 He
said 10 part;
"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 corporations there are two
elements-those who desire to enlarge
the scope OF federal government and
those who desire to preserve the
integrity and authority of the several
states. l invite your attention to
this subject because it is likely to h.
the rock on which honest reformers
will split unless there is a clear under
standing Of the situation. The
Jetfersonian Democrat would not
take from the federal government
any power necessary to the perform
ance Of its legitimate 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 endanger the
perpetuity Of the republic. While
the advocate OF Capitalization is
urging legislation which ~obllterates
state lines and removes the govern
ment from control Of voters, the
m%0nopollSt may on the other hand.
hide behind the democratic theory of
self-koVernment and use this theory
TO prevent national legislation which
may be necessary.
1.-THE Investigations Of the large
life insurance companies led to the
discussion Of national remedies and
the advocates of Capitalization are
likely to sieze upon the agitation as
an excuse for legislation which will
take the business of life insurance
out Of tine hands of the various states
The Democrats should draw a distinc.
tion between federal legislation which
is supplemental to state legislation
and that form Of federal legislation
which would substitute a national for
a state remedy. mo insurance com.
pany and no federal supervision should
interfere with the exercise Of the
power now vested in the states to
supervise companies doing business in
such states.
$50 In devlsing a remedy for the
trusts, the Democratic party should
r~esolutely oppose every effort to
authorize national incorporation or
chartering OF trading or manufactur.
ing enterprises. Congress has con.
troll over interstate commerce, but to
control interstate commerce 1t Is not
necessary that 1t ould create cor.
porations that can override state
laws. The Democratic national plat
form OF 1900 proposed a national
remedy for the trusts entirely SON
slstent with the preservation Of state
remedies. 1t suggested a license
systematic license to permit a cor.
poration to do business outside OF the
the state Of its origin, upon compli.
ance with the condition OF the license,
but the license would not permit il
to do business in any other state
except on compliance with the con-
ditions provided by the state. In
other words, it 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 it any immunity from
the laws Of the state in which the
llcensee lives. The same reasoning
should be applied to the insurance
question and to all other questions
which involve remedial legislation.
"No advocate Of Capitalization
should be prepared to impair the power
the various states over business done
their borders under the pre-
tense that 1t 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. 1t is possible to preserve
In full force the power Of both the
federal government and the state
government. 1t is only necessary
that the legitimate functions of the
two governments shall be clearly
recognized and their spheres duly
respected.
IL have mentioned only the aues-
tion of insurance and the trust dues.
lion, but there are many subjects
which involve the issue between
Democracy and Capitalization. 1t is
natural that the Democratic party
should advocate the cleo ion OF senators
BY a direcU vote of the people, for this |
reform would move a barrier erected
between the people and their repre-
sentatlyes In the senate. This !
proposition is a compromise between
those who trust the people and those
who still doubted the eanacftv NJ tha