The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15

That sharp twists were given to the
screws of Capitalization by the session of
Congress that adjourned recently Is q
fact of vast significance which will make
atsef manifest to all the people of the
nation as soon as the four or five impor-
tant laws enacted begin to be applied
with that vigor which is promised by the
fight President Roosevelt made for their
enactment
At no other Session of Congress since
the reconstruction era that followed the
civil war have such strides been made
by the national power to outstrip the
power of the states. Not the least omi-
nous feature of this aggressive movement
TO centralize at washington the real pow
err of the nation is that there virtually
was no partisanship in the legislation re-
ferred to-
1t Is true that Ababamais two veteran
senators raised their voices in dignifed
protest against the eneroachments on
states rights by the federal power but
with these exceptions every democrat in
either branch of Congress Endorsed by
speech and vote with enthusiasm every
whit as great as that of the republicans
the movement which swiftly is eentraliz-
Ing at Washington-and that, too in the
hands of the exeeutive-al1 of the power
and prerogatfves of government.
Invoked Jefferson's Name.
Likewise is it true that such demo-
Gratis in the Senate as Messrs. Culberson,
Bailey Stone, Tillman, Rayner, Bacon,
Clay, and Mallory invoked the name of
jefferson in pleas they made against a
too rapid contraction of the powers of
government; and 1t is also true that re-
publcans like Messrs. Spooner, Lodge,
Knox, Allison, Dofiver, La Toilette,
fClapp and Nelson not once called upon
the spirit OF Alexander Hamilton to wit
mess that they were striving to attain
mis- ideal in government as opposed to
that of Thomas Jefferson; but since their
tconduct was in line with what Hamilton
tcontended for at the laying of the corner
Estone of the structure, they doubtless did
mot feel the necessity of conjurng with
mis- name, did the democrats, who, con-
1ur1ng with the great name of the patron
saint of their party. did so In tone of
apology rather than of invocation.
Thus, as established by the record made
at the session Of Congress just closed,
there is no longer any Issue between re-
publicans and democrats on centraliza-
tion. The tariff remains of course, but
as protection sentiment at the south
grows with the rapid multiplication OF
manufacturing enterprises in that region,
1t is obvious that this tremendous ques-
tion cannot cut the figure in campaigns
between the two old parties that 1t
has been cutting during the life of the
overwhelming majority of this generation
of voters.
Since. therefore, politics" have been
practically eliminated from far-reaching
governmental policies espoused with
strenuous fervor by President Roosevelt
and enacted into law by his .resolute IN
sistence. 1t is evident that party will
be influential in the next few national
campaigns only as there may be potency
In a name The force of this view is en-
phasized when the fact is taken into
consideration that not democrat In the
House voted against any of the Presi-
dents schemes of national increase OIL
power, while in the Senate whatever IN
fluence may be exerted on the popular
mind by the votes of Messrs Morgan and
Pettus against the railroad rate bill on
tba gro,,nd that it was an invasion of
states rights will be offset by the vote
cast with them by Mr.. Foraker, shining
light in republican councils, on practicai-
iy the same ground.
Roosevelt's Prestige.
From this viewpoint there can be no
question of the tremendous prestige mat
has been added ITO the name. OF Theodore
Roosevelt by the legislation put upon the
STATUTES by the Fifty-ninth Congress.
However unpopular he may be among the
members Of both branches OF the Con-
rress-and there is no doubt at all OF
this-the fact remains that 1t VIII De
known as his Congress and the stringent
laws enacted for the extension OF the
federal power will be known as his laws.
He did not get all that he demanded OIL
congress in the names of ''the people
hut he has made a start one result Oh
which may be to upset alike political
traditions and the calculations pelns
made by the managers OF both parties Ior
1908
fact of interest which does not yet
seem to be widely known Is the lmpof-
+ant mart taken in this legislation by
three of President Roosevelts caplnet
pfficers-Messrs. Root Taft and MOODY.
The President is not a lawyer, however
well grounded he may be In the princ-
niles of constitutional government, and ne
has been guided step by step in the ad-
vances he has made by the three great
lawyers named. 1t Is even more interest
ing to note that in every instance after
he had determined upon policy with
regard to the questions of aggrandizing
the federal power the details were worked
out by his attorney general, William I'll.
Moody Only the larger features-the gen
eral policies themselves-were discussed
with Messrs. Root and Taft. The specif-
cations, so to speak, were worked out by
Mr. Moody, who. for all of his supposed
New England conservatism has shown
himself to be as radical as any man of
the day In high public station.
1t can be asserted truthfully that Sena-
tor Knox, who Suddenly was called into
public life from the cloister of the cor
poration lawyer by President Mckinley,
paved the way for the executive agrees
sions that have been given the sanction
of law. While he was attorney general,
MIR. Knox made a speech III his city of
Pittsburg In October, 1902. that laid the
foundation for what has been done by his
successor in efforts to give virlle force to
new policies fastened upon the country
by the present administration. In the
speech referred to Mr.. Knox pointed the
way for the application of the old prin-
cipes of law to modern conditions of
business.
Moody's Own Views.
closer view of what Attorney General
Moody thinks and has done along this
line can be had by quoting his own words.
He instances the growth of the depart
ment of Justice as evidence of the change