Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-12
The Roosevelt-Bryan Merger.

congress eIlacG SUCH a law.
Mr.. Bryan urged the enforcement
of the criminal clause of the Sherman
law against trusts. Mr.. Roosevelt
asks for the right Of appeal in such
criminal cases on question Of law,
holding that it is absurd to permit a
single district judge to declare a
law of Congress unconstitutional
against what might be the Judge
ment of an immense majority of his
colleagues on the bench, and then
deny to the Government the right
to have the Supreme Court definitely
decide the question. Mr.. Roosevelt
also favors statute providing that
no judgement shall be set aside or
new trial granted on technical
grounds unless it shall appear that
the error complained of resulted in a
miscarriage of justice.
Mr. Bryan indorsed the licensing
of corporations. Mr.. Roosevelt is
in favor of controlling corporations
by Federal license law "or in other
fashion" Mr.. Roosevelt, however,
draws closer distinction than Mr..
Bryan between good trusts, and bad
trusts considers some combinations
beneticient. He would even legalize
railway pooling, but would, of
course, regulate it to prevent abuses.
Mr.. Bryan opposed government
by injunction especially in labor
disputes. Mr.. Roosevelt comedies
that injunctions issue too freely in
these causes, and would require
judges to give due notice to the ad-
verse parties before granting writ.
Mr.. Bryan favored an eight-hour
day." Mr.. Roosevelt believes st
should be our aim steadily to reduce
the number of hours of labor, with,
as goal, the general introduction
of an eight hour day." Mr.. Roosevelt
would begin by limiting the hours
of railroad employees. The Eight
Hour law already on the statute of
books relating to Federal contracts
"is being rigidly enforced" but the
President favors further legislation
if it is decided.
Mr.. Bryan advocated compulsory,
arbitration of labor disputes, but
not compulsory acceptance of the
findings. Mr.. Roosevelt urges the
appointment of a Federal commission
Of investigation and conciliation to
deal with strikes.
Mr.. Bryan declared that the
Philippines should be dealt with
after the manner of Cuba. Since
that time there has been Cuban.
insurrection, and we are temporarily
dealing with Cuba as we should
deal with the Philippines. Mr..
Roosevelt says that when the cleo
tons are held and new Govern.
ment is inaugurated in a peaceful
orderly fashion the Provisional Gov
ernment in Cuba will come to an
end. but nobody knows when that
will be. Mr.. Bryan's wish has been
fulfilled inversely. Both, however,
favor free trade for the Philippines,
or at least a greatly reduced tariff.
Mr.. Bryan insisted that the navy
should not be employed in the col
lection of private debts. Mr.. Roose-
velt deprecates such use of the navy
and is in moral sympathy with the
resolution adopted at the Rio con-
ference recommending that the
question be submitted to second
peace conference at The Hague.
Mr.. Roosevelt makes important
recommendations relating to many
questions which Mr.. Bryan did not
discuss in the Madison Squsre Gar
den speech. He favors the with
drawal of the Government coal lands.
Ownership in such lands would re-
main in the United States, which
would not attempt to mine coal, but
would license mining and receive a
royalty on the coal taken out. Mr..
Bryan will undoubtedly indorse this
| recommendation.
4 Mr.. Roosevelt also proposes to ex-
tend employers liability SO that the
entire trade risk" will be upon the
employer. "If the entire trade risk
is placed upon the employer he will
promptly and properly add it to the
cost Of production and assess it
proportionaiely upon the consumers
of this product" In this way
society as whole would pay for the
accidents resulting from occupations
that are necessarily hazardous. II
is to be assumed that Mr.. Bryan will
sympathize with this extension Of
the socialistic principle. Whether
he will also indorse the Presidents
recommendation for a Federal
marriage and divorce law is more
problematical, but there is nothing
in the suggestion that conflicts with
Mr.. Bryan's theories Of government
Mr.. Roosevelt thinks the Meat In.
spection law should be amended tc
provide that the labels be dated and
the cost of inspection charged to the
packers. Mr.. Bryan strongly favort
this.
Mr.. Roosevelt argues at length tc
prove that the courts are entitled tc
no immunity from criticism, and
that "the best judges have ever been
foremost to disclaim" such immunity
Mr.. Bryan has consistently adhered
to this position ever since the
Supreme Court declared the income
tax unconstitutional, and the Chica.
go platform limited at reorganiz,
alton of the court.
Mr.. Bryan in turn recommended
important measures which the Presi'