Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-18
JUDGE PARKER DELIVERS
ADDRESS ON CONSTITUTION
Ably Maintains That the Roosevelt Policy to
Encroach Upon the Rights OF States is
Wrong and One That Should
Be Resisted

, tion so serious ms to require that our
| underlying governmental theories
should be formed anew? The Faith.
crs had IN mind wholesome fear
of the exercise of arbitrary power by
Il too strongly centralized govern
mont Thoy justly deemed that there
In tho danger of ultimate destruction
lay. This dread they Inherited from
their ancestors who after long
| struggle had secured the great lAcss-
ings conferred by Magma Chartn, the
scfsnmc inalicnab,c rights of life.
liberty ANA property which We enjoy
today. II was to protect these rights
that the Fathers riskcd their lives
and property. TO maintain them
they provided system of checks and
balances between departments of
government and dual system of gov
eminent which they believed would
ever protect by department of gov
eminent or by the people themselves.
How wisely they planned, the smooth
ness of tho working of our dual sys-
tenn for nearly century and Il quar-
ter attcsts. Our people have enjoyed
during that time int protection TO
life liberty ana property which the
Fathers sought &C. secure To them
selves and assure to u.s. And In the
confidence horn from the security
thus assured our people put forth II
mighty effort resulting in n growth
ana development along every avenue
known To civilization unsurpassed in
the history of the world
None can deny that effort Is afoot
TO enhance the powers OF the federal
government; that I'M opportune time
FOR aggression in that direction has
been chosen; that the people arc
aroused over abuses which have
come to light. and that the moments
has lacn seized upon to lead an as.
s;lut upon II constitution AS nearly
ideal today MS when the Fathers draft
cd it ana the states and their people
approved It, All the rascality which
has been uncovered. say tho leaders
of tho movement. would have been
avoided had the federal government
exercised the power That the states
have hccn allowed to exercise. Strip
the state governments of this control
over all corporations, let the federal
government create them or license
thcm, let tho federal government CON
trol production ms well as Transport
tntion. ana all will be we'll Let
Congress by statute confer upon the
executive the control of all the as.
poets of commercial life through bn.
rcaus and commissions OF his own
appointments Then ana not till then
will corporate wrongdOing cease.
But lot me say To you that that
which has created the public agita-
ton. so ndrotly seized upon as Il
cover for an attack on the constitu-
ton has an underlying cause in 4
totally different direction and calling
for an entirely different cure. The
rotlonncss which oifcnds our nostris
Is bred of an unholy alliance of adj.
ministration and favored interests.
Party success has been placed above
public duty. In the struggle for mas
terry In both state and nation money
has .ren sought MS we'll for illcgiti-
mate uses as legitimate uses AS the
corruption OF the electorate has wild
encd and doCpcncd the demand for
money has Increased. a demand which
long ago ontgrew any sum that could
he raised by patriotic contributors
So corporations having favors Ia ask
were invited to contribute and they
did so knowing full well that, when
legislation was needed or undesirable
legislation was threatened, the head
of tho organization coud he relied M.
on for assistance; that his statement
that this corporation contributed ten
or one hundred thousand dollars to
tho campaign fund would lock or I'M
lock the door to Legislative or admin.
istrative action. This has been true
In some cities which are democratic
aud in Others which are republican.
II has for many years been true in
some states MS well as in the nation.
I'm this hour of angry retaliation
lpon the corporations, an hour In
which the Innocent suffer with the
guilty. we must not forget that pub
lie officers are themselves most to
blame. Tho money was solicited nm.
der circumstances oft-timcs amount
ing 10 demand Its acceptance
created an obligation. The alliance
which arose has cost the people dear.
Wisely did Mr.. Bryce advise us that
we should aim to bring ms few H..
nancial interests rs possible within
the sphere of governmental activity.