Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-04-04
STATES RIGHTS"
AND THE CHILDREN

~&~-A OAAAAJA(I GlS
The Reader Magazine OF April con.
tains the second installment OF tn,
debate between Mr.. Bryan and Mr.
Beyeridge ON the problems of tho
nation
Mr. Bryan stoutly upholds tn,
traditional doctrine OF states rights
and pays particular attention to the
necessity for local self-government
in such matters as the race problem
in the South and on the Pacific
coast. on this question he SAYS.
The people Of the Northern states
do not come into contact with the
black race MS the people OF the south
and because the experiences are diff
ferent in the two sections the views
OF the subject are different If q
citizen of the North moves into the
black belt he soon recognizes that ne
has a different situation to deal with
from that which confronted him i
the North and hts views of the sub
iect are likely 10 undergo quite O
change. Even a winters stay I'm the
South is apt TO have an educational
influence upon the citizens Of the
North. and he ceases 10 make sweep.
ing criticism OF the Southerners."
From this point Of view Mr.. Bryan
concludes that the state must con
.tinue as the champion of the home
the school. the community and tho
local interests which are best nm
derstood by the people OF each com.
munity and best defended by those
who understand the conditions to be
met"
Having planted himself thus firm
ly on the doctrine Of states rights
Mr.. Bryan makes himself equolly
clear in declaring that national
child labor law is not an infringe
ment Of the states rights doctrine
We give his words here In full:
Senator Beveridge refers to the
child labor law, for which he stands
sponsor While # is true that the
manufacturing interests which op-
pose this law are hiding behind the
reservoirs rights Of the states. and
while it. is true that many Demo
rats aye opposing tho senators bill
some Of them bccausc of the influence
Of manufacturers employing child
labor and some On thcoretical
grounds. think ! can speak for q
considerable element OF the Demo
cratic party whom 7 say that the SEN
ator's bill does not in the least tres
pass upon states rights
"The power o fconeress over inter
state commerce IS complete. This
rowo~ is not only complete, but its
exercise IS necessary. the various
states being impotont when it comes
TO matters Of interstate commerce
] have given 10 Senator Beveridge's
bill whatever support 7 could n IS
right i'm principle; IT is necessary
and # does not interfere with the
reserved rights Of the states. II per
miis each state 10 regulate its own
affairs I'm so far as It's action affects
state commerce only, but the bin
recognizes the right OF congress to
determine the condition upon which
merchandise shall enter interstate
commerce The phinciple embodied
i'm the senator's bin is q most inn
portant one At This time he is ap-
plying So to goods produced by childs
labor. more than Elk years ago The
Democratic platform demanded the
application Of this principle TO The
trust question 7 had this principle
in mind when in my former article j
said it. IS not necessary TO interfere
with the rights Of tho states 600 order
TO enact measures necessary for the
anihilaHon of the trusts
Senator Beveridge should be Civ
on credit for his championship OF the
cause Of the children, and 7 wish him
every success in his effort TO secure
the passage OF the Beycridge bin.