Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-12-20
Secretary Roots Speech.
philadelphia Press)

Secretary Roots penetrating and sug-
gestive speech on Capitalization rests
more on the logic of necessity than on
that of policy. With the changed con-
ditions of amplified modern life and or
ganization the States cannot do much
that the public good imperatively re-
quires. With their varying, inadequate
and often conflicting legislation, they
fail to do much that is urgently de-
manded
Out of these lapses, which are partly
inherent and partly delinquencies, grows
the necessity for national action. Secre-
tary Root safeguards this national alb
sorption of broad powers and minute
application by scrupulously attaching
the qualification that the measures must
be constitutional. Thus expounded
and thus limited what is a recognition
rather than an advocacy of centraliza-
ton by Mr.. Root has nothing alarming.
On the contrary, it is only the philoso-
phical statement of an inevitable ten
dency accompanied by the legal percep-
ton of the controlling restrictions. 1t is
the observation of an acute statesman
tempered by the insight of great law
yer.
The tendency to nationalism has been
inseparable from modern growth. Mr..
Root portrays the causes with rapid
and vivid touch. Enlarged human in
terests and INSTRUMENTATION have
altogether overleaped State lines. The
great agencies of activity can stop at
State boundaries no more than at coun-
ty boundaries. Thus the question of
regulating railroad rates, when the rail-
roads cross State lines, is one with
which the States cannot adequately
deal. The Federal antitrust law, the
anti-rebate law, the Federal laws on
meat inspection, oleomargarine and pure
food laws are also Of this character.
Congress was compelled to legislate be-
cause legislation had become prime
necessity and the State could not supply
it effectively.
There is another class of legislation
which the Federal Congress is called
upon to supply, because the States which
might supply it do not choose to do their
duty, or, considering only their separate
interests, pass measures which are hurt
full to the people of other States. For
this reason Congress is asked to pass
uniform divorce laws, child labor laws
and for the control of insurance. Be-
cause some States, by their laws, facil-
itate the formation of trusts and the
creation of monopolies and foster enor-
NOUS overcapitalization of corporations,
the tendency to seek relief through the
National Government is strongly stimu-
lated.
Our dual systematically and
home rule-has great merits and we do
not want to change it. But unless
States do their duty the spirit of ma
tionalism will grow. There is no de-
sire to control State rights, but to sup
ply State omissions and to correct some
obvious State wrongs. The movement
is natural evolution. 1t has proceed
ed and must proceed only within con-
stitutional lines. 1t cannot be stopped
so long as there is a great public wrong
without legal remedy, and which in
its consequences reaches beyond State
boundaries.
The States, jealous of their preroga-
tives, or, far better, moved by a per-
ception of duty, can check this central
izing tendency by themselves supplying
the wholesome laws which the people
demand. If the States seem to be los.
ing some of their Importance and au-
thority, Mr.. Root points out that the
remedy is Ito be found in the awaken
ed conscience of the States, their broad
ened views and higher standard of re-
sponsibility to the public.