Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
Virtue of SeIf-ReIiance.
Carried to an Extreme

No small part of the trouble that we
have comes from carrying to an extreme
the national virtue of self-reliance, of
independence in initiative and action. 1t
is wise to conserve this virtue and to
provide for its fullest exercise, COM
patible with seeing that liberty does not
become liberty to wrong others. I'm
that the lack of all effective regulation
inevitably breeds. The founders of the
Constitution provided that the national
government should have complete and
sole control Of interstate commerce. There
was then practically no Interstate bust
ness save such as was conducted by
water, and this the national government
at once proceeded to regulate in thorough
going and effective fashion.
Conditions have now so wholly changed
that the interstate commerce by water is
insignificant compared with the amount
that goes by land, and almost all big
business concerns are now engaged in
interstate commerce. AS result, 1t can
be but partially and imperfectly con-
trolled or regulated by the action of any
one of the several states; such action in
evitably tending to be either too drastic
or else too lax, and in either case inef-
fective for purposes of justice. Only the
national government can In thorOughgo-
ing fashion exercise the needed control.
This does not mean that there should be
any extension of federal authority, for
such authority ALREADY exists under the
Constitution in ampleSt and most far
reaching form: but 1t does. mean that
there should be an extension Of federal
activity This is not advocating CEN
tralization. 1t is merely looking facts in
the face, and realizing that centraliza-
ton in business has already come and
cannot be avoided or undone. and that
the public at large can only protect itself
from certain evil effects of this business
Capitalization by providing better methods
for the exercise of control through the
authority already centralized in the ma
tional government by the Constitution it
self. $3.50
There must be no halt in the healthy
constructive course of action which this
nation has elected to pursue, and has
steadily pursued, during the last six
years, as shown both in the legislation of
the Congress and the administration of
the law by the Department Of Justice.
The most vital need; is in connection with
the railroads. AS to these, in my judg-
ment there should now be either a ma
tional Incorporation act or law licensing
railway companies to engage In interstate
commerce upon certain conditions. The
law should be SO framed as to give to
the interstate commerce commission
power to pass upon the future issue of
securities, while ample means should be
provided to enaUfe the commission, when
ever In its judgment it is necessary, to
make a physical valuation of any railroad.
As I stated In my message to the
Congress year ago, railroads should be
given power to enter into agreements,
subject to these agreements being made
public In minute detaff and to the consent
OF the interstate commerce commission be-
ing first obtained. Until the national gov
eminent assumes proper control of inter-
state commerce, In the exercise of the
authority 1t already possesses; 1t will be
impossible either to give to or to get from
the railroads full justice. The railroads
ana all other great corporations win do
wen to recognize that this control must
come; the only question Is as to what
governmental body can most wisely ex-
ercise It. The courts will determine the
limits within which the federal authority
can exercise 1t. and there will still re-
main ample work within each state for