The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-30


of responsibility for the unhappy
financial and Industrial conditions
with which we have been overtaken
"While there should be efficient su-
pervision and regulation of interstate
commerce and the carriers and cor
lporations of every kind engaged there
lin, It will become more and more
manifest as, time passes and results
are developed that this supervision
must be safe and conservative--con-
sisten with the constitution and with
sound common sense.
K The moral standing of the busi-
ness men Of this country has always
been high. 1t was never 80 high
as II is now. There Is. consequent
lly. less occasion than ever before 10
restrict commercial freedom by stas-
utory demands OF management ana
surveillance that are apparently
framed on the theory that all men
are criminals. Such legislation
hampers enterprise, retards business
activity and discredits the whole ma
ltion.
r'Broad principles should govern
in all legislation and the enforcement
of the laws should be left to the ap-
propriate tribunals without unauthor-
lied Interference from any source,
and above all things there should De
no liberation of the idea that our
constitution has become in part a
lmisfit and obsolete. and that II must
he changed and vitalized by Judiciai
Interpretation or by the mere asser-
tion of public sentiment in support
of that which may for the moment
he desired, although manifestly nn-
authorized by its provisions.
] From the beginning of our gov
ernment our constitution has been
lrecognized by all the world as one
of the wisest and most nearly per-
feet organic laws ever framed. Un-
der II we have grown and prospered
as no other people ever has. We
should be slow to condemn It or to
find fault with 1t, but If we find 1t
inadequate. or that for any reason 1t
should be changed. 1t contains pro-
vision I'M accordance with which we
can amend It. No one should think
of amending It in any other man
ner. To change II in any other way
would be the beginning of the end.
In my opinion no amendments are
necessary to enable the government
to efficiently exercise all its powers,
and that no additional powers are
necessary to the proper supervision
and regulation of every matter that
is the legitimate subject of legisla-
Ition.
II note also that the committee
refer 20 the Republican policy of a
protective tariff and to the enforce
ment of the laws for the protection Of
all the rights of citizenship.
AT another time | may take occa-
sion to speak on these subjects at
some length but 1t Is sufficient for
present purposes to remark that
with our surplus revenues diminish
ing, and our enormous expenditures
increasing. !. would be like adding
the last grain of sand TO undertake
to tinker with the tariff.
"Under the present tariff laws We
have had the greatest prosperity any
country has ever enjoyed and it
has been because of the strength
thus given us that we have stood
up as we'll as we have under the de-
cline in values amounting to billions
of dollars. that has, at last brought
business depression TO employers
and idleness to thousands Of en-
ployes. 1t Is To the beneficial results
of that policy, as expressed in the
Dingley law, that we must look for
one of the necessary factors in the
work of restoring prosperity.
There will doubtless come time
when changes in that law can be
made to advantage, but that time is
not now.
$50 far as the protection of the
equal rights OF citizenship Is con-
Icerned my views are well known.
When the Republican party falt-
ers' in that high duty it will fail
: and go out of power, and it will
deserve defeat.
!. Wnat Lincoln and Grant and the
great men of their day did was not
, done in vain. These achievements
will endure and every Republican
who honors their memory and glories
in their deeds should ne proud 10 up.
hold their work
when the national committee
shall have issued the call for the
} next national Republican convention
Shall, as heretofore announced, for.
'mallv request the state central com.
lmittee to embody in its call for the
next state convention requirement
that all delegates to that convention
shall be chosen by direct vote oi
; the Republican electors of the state
at duly authorized primary elections
held In accordance with the statutes