The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-09

purpose now pending. I nave favored
u reasonable child labor Law for the
mines and factories of my own State.
we have such a law upon our statute
books. passed In 1903, a law passed by the
Legislature OF that State, which had the
power. and whose concern It WAS. and not
by the Congress-. which has not the power
and whose concern 1t was not. Such
legislation by the general government l
am opposed to as being a step towards
GENERALIZATION and an invasion Upon the
rights of the State.
II am glad to state, too. Mr.. President.
that our cotton mill children nave the
opportunity afforded than of an educa-
ton. Many OF our factories maintain the
very best schools for from four to eight
months. with the very best school build
ings with modern equipment, and employ
the best teachers, all at their own ex-
pense.
While there may be mitch truth in It,
and there may be and perhaps is an evil
that should be corrected In the proper
way, but in my judgment there Is a good
deal Of elap-trap in all this cry
about the crime against humanity
and slavery in the cotton mills. Where
the evils exist the States can and will
correct them. 1 insist that In this Chris
tan land of ours there Is no less of
higher moral ideas and humanitarianism
in one State than another. We are all
living and moving on q higher, nobler
and more Christianlike plane. 1 trust,
and where one State has seen its duty
and legislated in favor OF humanity and
corrected these evils. you may soon ex-
pect that the Christian and patriotic
sentiment in other States will cause their
LEGISLATURES to act in these matters, until
we have the uniformity that Is so much
desired.
"And again, Mr.. President. the law
which will suit one State might not prove
satisfactory to the people Of another
State, where conditions are entirely diff
ferent, and the regulations should be
left to each State, which knows It's own
conditions best. The power to pass such
a law Is exclusively In the State. The
States never surrendered to the general
government the power or its right
to l~egislate upon questions affecting tho
life and liberty OF its citizens. 1t never
SURRENDERED It's right to l~egislate upon
the rights Of person or property. or upon
questions affecting the good order of So
ciety, the public health, or upon any of
It's internal, Industrial or domestic con-
Germs. It never surrendered Its police
power and never will"
In conclusion, Senator Overnan said:
"The railroads, the telegraph and the
telephone companies, and COM
mercial relation. mutual dealings nave
brought the sections of the country closer
together and made them neighbors and
friends. There is more of prosperity.
more of concord and amity, existing than
ever before. And no one section OF the
country is more loyal to the government
or AXE more pride In her greatness than
another. and should she be assailed, the
South, MS we'll as tho North, the East
and West, all together. would rally to Its
support. each wing with the other In Civ
ing 1t Its most loyal support. Pride of
State and love of the Union would make
us invincible. Under these conditions it
would be n crime to change our present
system OF government; q crime to take
from the people the right of local self
government in the States. Let the powers
enumerated in the Constitution remain
limited. Let the reserved power in the
people be undisturhed. Capitalization
would be a constant menace to the liber-
ties Of the people. breeding corruption and
oppression. These reserved powers are in
the people of the States. 1t is theirs to
hold. it is theirs to surrender, but when
ever surrendered 1t can never be regained.
I say with a great judge who wrote 1t,
that that government is best which while
performing all Its duties 1nterferes the
least with the lawful pursuits of Its peo-
MAJ - "A