Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-26
RINGING ARRAIGNMENT

! HyHE following ringing arralgnmeni
of President Roosevelt for passages
- in his Provincetown speech, made
by William Jennings Bryan at Lincoln
Neb., Saturday, is so emphatic, con.
densed and effective we give it in full:
1T appears that President Roosevelt
at last has disclosed his scheme fol
Capitalization. Here is the secret: The
states are annoying the greedy corpora
tions, and the corporations, hard hit
are demanding federal protection from
the state legislatures.
President Roosevelt seems to think
that action is most necessary against
these corporations. which, because they
are common carriers, exercise quasi
public functions. If 1t were the people
he wishes to protect, he would RECON-
mend federal remedies and would not
interfere with the state remedies. But
the railroads demand a removal of au-
thority to Washington. The Democrats
can be depended upon to resist any such
movement"
The question of Capitalization of pow
er in the federal government has come
to be, by reason of the grave points
involved, one of deep interest. While
The Herald has no part in the scare of
a threatened monarchy, we do fear the
perpetuation of Republican sway, and
every move that places power in fed
eral hands not warranted by a true con-
-
fathers passed it to us is move to
fasten on the people all the burdens
now borne. and pave the way to others;
to give a life lease of office to the
"stand pat" army now coercing the peo-
pie, and step by step to lead up to an
oligarchy, oppressive in power and re-
pellant to republican institutions.
With federal law that would override
all state law, nothing would be wanting
to give corporations control of the gov
ernment but the willing coalition of the
administration, and that is pledged
now, and will continus to be, so long as
elections are controlled by money in
the Republican party.
1t Is true these things are yet in
embryo, but the fact that they are
thought of at all is fraught with warn
ing to the masses, and forewarned is
to be forearmed. A review of conditions
now obtaining is startling. The coun-
try at large is calling for the check
ing of robber trusts; the laws of states
and that of the federal government
conflict at certain points; the possible
federal law that does not conflict is
found to be effective; it's application
strikes home on leading law breaker, |
and because of financial interests in
sotck circles all the moneyed powers
of the corporations call upon the presi-
dent to stay his hand, and he stays it.
Now come the same corporations,
brought to bar by state laws, made
bold and insistent by the measure of
relief already afforded by the admins
tration, and plot with the Republican
party through its official head to create
federal laws that shall supersede and
override all state laws, and thus insure
their freedom from all law.
Such is the bold policy of the party
in power. and such will be its work if
suffering people do not arise at the
polls and make it impossible by an
overwhelming vote for the Democratic
nominee for the presidency.
By degrees much power has been
given to the federal government, and
judged by the results, chief of which is
a robber financial policy that chains
honest business, it will be the part of
wisdom to see that halt is called, and
that the causes of all present troubles
the robber tariff and it's effects-are
by the voices and votes of
the people for Democracy in November,
1908.