The Washington times., 1906-08-20
Elements Of Discord.


The opposition TO the adoption u
the treaty by which our right 90 build
the Panama canal was secured. part.
at least OF the opposition even now
being made TO the ratification Of the
SautJ Domingo treaty. which is one
more step iu the EFFORT 10 make peace
ful and secure the waters through
which the route Of the canal leads. the
constant effort % delay on one pretext
and another. the actual work on the
CanaI-au prove how essential II is that
n the American people desire The Pan
anna canal 10 be built ia speedy and
efficient fashion. they should uphold the
hands OF those who in tie present Con-
gress have SO effectively Ch5mpl0ued
this work
NO less pralseworthy has been the
attitude Of this Congress In continuing
to maintain on high plane of ef-
hciency the United States navy. This
country is irreyocably committed 20 the
maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine
and policing the canal route, but both
would be absurd on their face, II the
Nation failed 90 do Its duty iu main
tanning a thoroughly efficient navy
Use Of Corporate Wealth.
NO other Congress for many years
has. as regards the bettcrment OF our
internal affairs, 80 much and such eN-
cellent work 20 its credit The tire
mendous social and industrial changes
in our nation have rendered evident
the need Of a larger exercise by the Ma
tional Government OF It's power TO deal
with the business use Of wealth. and
especially of corporate wealth. In in
terstate business. 1t IS not too much
2 q hat 2 he ID
in the last few years and the hearty
agreement between the executive and
legislative department OF the nation In
taking The needed action each within
nation for me first time definitely en-
tering upon The career of proper per
Torrance of duty in these matters.
A Task Of Difficulty.
The task IS peculiarly difficult. be.
cause it is one In which the fanatical
or foolish extemeis. and the reaction
cry. whether honest or dishonest. play
into one another's hands, and thereby
render II hard to secure action which
shall be effective. and yet no. needlessly
ieoDardize the business prosperity which
We all share. even though not VITA as
equality as we are striving TO secure. Il
Is "a very easy thing 10 play the dem
agoFue in this matter, TO confine one.
self merely 20 denOunCing TIE evils Of
wealth. II is also easy 10 play the part
Of a mere ObstruCtiOuisti to decline to
recognize the great evils of the present
system, and thereby strengthening the
hands of those who advocate extreme
and foolish measures
at is not easy to do as the present
Congress and its immediate predeCes-
sors have done; that Is, sternly TO dis
regard alike the self-intereSt Of those
who have profited by the present evils.
and the wild clamor of those who care
less to do away with them than 10
make "a reputation with the unthinking
of standing in extreme opposition to
them.
emf Congress has done.
INSTEAD OF enaCting antitrust laws
which were either so vague or sweeping
as completely to defeat their own OBJ
iects Il has given us an Interstate com
merce law. which will enable us TO ex-
ercise I'm thorough fashion a supervision
over the common carriers of this 1coun-
try so as. while sCrupulOusly safeguard
ing their proper interests. to prevent
them from charging excessive rates; to
prevent their faVOring one man at the
expense OF another and 10 require them
10 be fully accountable 70 the public for
the service which TO their own profit
they render the public
States Lack Powers.
The previous Congress. by the en-
actment Of the EIkins law and by the
OF the Department of Com
merce and Labor. had enabled US to
take great strides in advance along
the path Of thus bringing the use of
wealth in business under supervision
Of regulation Of the National Govern
ment. for in actual practice It has
proved a sham and pretense TO say
that the several States can thus SUPER
wise and regulate il.
THE strides taken by the present
Congress have been even longer in the
saght diTacHon. Ghs enactment OF the