The sun., 1907-11-24
THE THREAT or FEDERALISM
Dean Rogers OT tine Vale Law school Points
Out a Present Danger.

Dean Rogers OT tine Vale Law school Points
Out a Present Danger.
BOsTON. Nov. 23z-Dean Rogers OF IN,
Yale Law School. speaking tonight beHor,
the Economic Club. said in part:
we are threatened with a revival o
Federalism and with a Federalism which
is more extreme and radical than the leader
of the old Federal party ever countenanceC
OF would have tolerated. The argument
proceeds on the assumption that the StateI
have failed to perform their duties properly
so that great evils have grown UP which the
States cannot or will not remedy and from
which we should have been free il only the
Federal Government had exercised the
authority and not the States.
That the evil exists is conceded. That
the States have not done their full duty
is also conceded, but that the Fedora
Government would have done better is
a rare assumption and one am not pre-.
pared to accept Congress now has in
the Territories and in the District Of Colum-
bia all the powers which the State Govern
ments possess, yet the legislation respecting
the corporations which Congress has en-
acted has not been better than the legisla
ton Of the States on the same subje
sThe laws OF Congress have not secured
publicity OF accounts or prevented over
capitalization and stock waterings and
no system Of inspection has been estab-
lished over Federal corporations.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a Fed
eral charter. but upon its reOrganizatio ton
in 1897 it had clear capital Of sI36. 900 900.
which at market prices was worth $50, 900, =
OOO showing an estimated Overcapitaliza-
ton Of Ssi 900. 900
The President of the United States has
been known on various occasions 10 state
his conviction that what the country needs
is true executive action, true legislation
and true judicial interpretations and con-
structions TO increase the power of the
Federal Government. His distinguished
Secretary of state. one of the most eminent
members of the American bar, whose ability
and patriotism no man calls in question,
agrees with him.
when able and patriotic men tell liza
that Notwithstanding universal suffrage
our Constitution provides for class govern
ment and one so organized that consoIi-
dated wealth can dominate our institutions
against the will OF the people, respectfully
listen, but am not convinced that facts
justify the indictment, and am not readV
TO help pull down the pillars OF the temDi,
OF government in order that we NAV be-
gin TO establish a new constitution founded
on different principles.
-If the people send to the legislative
bodies railroad lawyers, presidents of in
surance companies and express companies
and attorneys for the trusts, and II thew
permit great corporations to contribute
vast sums OF money to help a party carry
on an election. il is absurd TO place the
blame on the Constitution and declaim that
we have a government Of the ella sses.
"If the classes get into the saddle, and I
do not say they have done so, il is because
the people put them there. 1t is not neces-
sary TO change the Constitution to get them
out; the power that put them IN can put them
out and can do it easily and effectively
whenever determined upon doing So"