Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-26
THE PROBLEMS OF TIE PEOPLE

William Jennings Bryan and Senator
Beveridge appear in a printed debate
! today on the subject of states rights,
| the first In a series on the problems OF
the people, which has been arranged
between them. 1t is understood that I'm
speaking for the Republican party In
these debates Senator Beveridgc acts as
the mouthpiece of the administration.
All the important issues between the
two parties Will be discussed. and Mir.
Bryan is expected to outline his party &
platform considerably in advance OF the
usual date. In the first debate, which
is published today I'm the Reader Maga-
zine, Mr. Bryan goes into a careful
statement of the differing theories held
by statesmen of the constitutional pe-
riod and follows this with a discussion
of issues of the day, in which these
paragraphs are prominent.
IF the time has come for obliterat-
ing state lines and consolidating all
authority, legislative, judicial and ex-
ecutive, at Washington. 1t can be done
by constitutional amendment whenever
three-tourths of the states are willing
10 ratify such an amendment But is
there any demand for a surrender by
the states of the powers reserved to
them? on the contrary, every reason
which existed lis years ago exists now,
and those reasons are even stronger
than they formerly we're. because of
the increase in the area and population
of the nation.
THE demand for the enlargement of
the powers of the federal government
comes from two sources, viz, from
those who believe with Hamilton in the
theory of Capitalization, and from those
who want legislation which the states
rights doctrine obstructs. OF these two
classes the last is most influential, be-
cause the members of this class impart
to their method the strength supplied
by the object aimed at. An abstract
theory seldom provokes discussion, but
wars have been fought over :. theory
embodied in Il concrete issue.
First, there is the effort to secure
the national incorporation of railway
and industrial enterprises. Those who
desire this hope for an act of congress
and favorable court decision sustain
ing it, They could hardly hope for the
adoption of an amendment to the con-
stitution. The national incorporation
of business enterprises is sought in
order to avoid state courts and state
regulation, but in view of the growing
sentiment against monopolies the sub
ject will hardly reach the courts. for II
Is not likely that a majority of con-
sress can be brought to favor any en-
largement of the power of commercial
corporations.
"A systematic absorption of power by
the federal government would not only
cause discomfort and weaken the at
tachment of the people for the govern
ment, but would breed indifference to
public affairs-forerunnero of despotism.
The exercise by the federal govern
ment of restraining power is not so OBJ
Jectionable as the exercise of creative
power.
In the exercise of restraining power
care should be taken to preserve to the
states the exercise of concurrent au-
thority, so that the state government
as well as the national government, can
stand guard over the rights of citizens
NO assault upon the authority of
contraction of the sphere of the state
can be justified on the ground that it
is necessary for the overthrow of mo-
nopolies. Federal remedies should sup
plement state remedies; they should
not be substituted for state remedies"
In his article Senator Beveridge re-
ters to the recent contests waged by
advocates of states rights against GER
tain federal legislation; the Louisiana
state lottery; the sending of obscene
literature through the mails. the meat
Dill, etc, etc, and defines the position