The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-24
MoNsrRous DOCTRINES.

Senator Fulton of Oregon recently made speech in which he enunciated doctrines and sentiments that are caIl- ing forth vigorous protests from lovers of constitutional government all over the country.
 q am firmly convinced" said he, that instead of delegating certain specified powers to the general govern ment. all power should be vested in 1t, and that the States should exercise only such powers as Congress may from time to time endow them with, or, at the ut- most, their powers should be limited and confined to subjects necessary to local self government. and all other powers be vested in the general govern ment"
 Commenting on this and other por- tions of the speech, The Portsmouth Star has this to say:
 This doctrine is simply monstrous and ,treasonable. Ii would destroy the equality of the states in the Sen ate and reduce the smaller States to mere vassalage. It is the reversal of the theory of a Federal government, and is the very quintessence and dead ly virus of imperialism. It is indeed, imperialism run wild. For. ss 1t is now, | the States alone have original powers, and the United States government has | only delegated powers. and can exer- else no power not plainly delegated. How could a government having del- egated powers only. delegate such pow CT back to their original possessor withoI'% leaving itself devoid of all oowerY In effect, Senator Fulton's Idea | is for the government of the Union to make quit claim deed of all it's powers all powers. and making 1t. like the | Kings of Old England, the fountain of honor" and the only source of power, l having local self government to de- Senator says: The power to regulate | commerce of every character, State and interstate. should be vested solely in | the Federal government; l have pre- | pared and shall offer at the coming ses- | sion a proposed amendment to the Fed l eral constitution granting to the gen eral government that power" This is | dangerous and futile doctrine.
 1 The Federal Congress at Washing l ton is far less responsive to the pop ular will than the state Legislature | ly by the electors as are the municipal councuR Most grievances are more | or less local. and when they must he carried to Congress they can safely
 
 bers from districts that are in, no way
 interested. The railway interests, or 1 the other hand. are concentrated and | thoroughly organized, and can bring | fheir political powers to bear more eff | fectuaIiy at Washington that at the l state capitals. As government es- ! tabIishment becomes further removed | from and above the popular source oi 1 it's authority the stronger is its ten l denrv to sacrifice the public interests | what the people neeS is local self gov
 ernment in all matters involving pure iv domestic affairs. Oregon needs this
 as much as North Carolina does.
 The Star must bear in mind that
 Fulton is merely little more out spoken than his brother Republicans
 He is bolder or less polite than they and that is about the only difference
 Roosevelt is at heart in line with the
 oregon Senator, and so arc number Of other Republican leaders, but they
 have not SO plainly expressed them
 selves. It is hard to imagine thai
 Fulton is to be followed by those wht
 control the party in power but nothing
 in politics surprises us these days.