The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-20

new methods, so as to achieve In the end
the same results OF justice and fair deal
| ing toward all. He cast aside nothing old
merely for the sake OF innovation. yet he
did not hesitate TO adopt anything new
that would save his purpose.
] when he planted his commemorative
on this rugged coast he faced wholly new
conditions and he had TO devise new meth
DDS OF meeting them. SO we today face
wholly new conditions In our social and
industrial life We should certainly not
adopt any new scheme for graphing with
| them merely because II is new and un-
| tried: but we can not AFFORD to shrink
] from graphing with them because they
can only be grappled with by some new
scheme.
The utterly changed conditions Of our
| national life necessitate changes In certain
OF our laws, OF our governmental methods.
Our federal system OF government Is based
upon the theory OF leaving 10 each
community, TO each state, the con-
| troll over those things which AFFECT
only its own members and which the
| people OF the locality themselves can
best grapple with. while providing for
national regulation In those matters which
necessarily affect the nation as a whole.
STATE RIGHTS.
'It seems 10 me that such questions as
| national sovereignty and states rights
| need TO be treated not empirically or aca-
| interests OF the people as whole. Ma
| tional sovereignty Is 10 be upheld In so
| far as II means the sovereignty of the
people used for the real and ultimate good
| OF the people; and states rights are to be
| upheld In so far as they mean the people, ,
rights. Especially Ia this true In dealing
with the relations OF the people as whole
| to the great corporations which are the
distinguishing feature OF modern business
conditions.
Experience has shown that II Is nec-
essary TO exercise a far more efficient con-
| troll than at present over the business use
OF those vast fortunes, chiefly corporate.
which are used (as under modern condi-
| tions they almost invariably are) in inter-
state business. When the Constitution
| was created none of the conditions OF
modern business existed. They are wholly
new and we must create new agencies to
| deal effectively with them. There is no
| objection in the mind of this people TO
any mans earning any amount OF money
| " he does IL honestly and fairly. II he
| gets II as a result OF special skill and
| enterprise. as a reward OF ample service
actually rendered. But there is a grow
ing determination that no man shah
amass a great fortune by special privilege,
| by chicanery and wrongdoing. SO far as IL
Is In the power OF legislation to prevent:
and that the fortune when arnassed shall
| not have a business use that Is antisocial.
NATIONAL INCORPORATION,
IT believe In a national Incorporation
law for corporations engaged in interstate
business. believe, furthermore, that the
need for action is most pressing as regards
| those corporations which, because they
! are common. carriers, exercise a quasi
| public function: and which can be COM
pletely controlled. in all respects by the
| federal government by the exercise of the
power conferred under the interstate COM
merce cluase. and. II necessary. under the
post-road clause. OF the constitution.
I'm dealing with any totally new set OF
| conditions there must at the outset be
hesitation and experiment. Such has
been our experience in dealing with the
enormous concentration OF capital en-
ployed in interstate business. Not only
the legislatures but the courts and the
people need gradually to be educated so
| that they may see what the real wrongs
are and what the real remedies.
PERMISSIBLE COMBINES.
Ultimately, and hope with reasonable
speed, the national government must pass
laws which, while increasing the super
visory and regulatory power Of the gov
ernment also permit such useful COM
binations a. are made with absolute open
ness and as the representatives Of the
government may previously approve. But
! Il will not be possible to permit such COM
| binations save as the second stage In a
course Of proceedings of which the fret
stage must be the exercise of O far more
complete control by the national govern
ment.
.'oftsn mon who have been guilty Of
violating these laws have really acted In
criminal fashion, and X possible should
bc proceeded against criminally: and
| therefore Il 10 advisable that there should
be q clause In these laws providing for
such criminal action. and for punishment
by imprisonment as well as by fine. Ono
| OF tho favorite devices OF those who are
| really striving to prevent the enforcement
! OF these laws In to clamor for action OF
such severity that Il can not be under
taken because Il will be certain TO fall IL
| tried. An instance OF this is the demand
| often made for criminal prosecutions
where such prosecutions would be certain
to fail.
OBEY LAW, FEAR NOTHING
"Our aim Is TO try TO to do something
| efYective; our purpose Is to stamp out
the evil; we shall seek TO find the most
| effective device for this purpose: and
we shall then use Il, whether the de-
| vice can be found In existing law or
must be supplied by legislation. More
| oyer, when we take this action against
| the wealth which works iniquity, we
arc acting In the interest Of every man
| OF property who acts decently and
| fairly by his fellows; and we are
| siren sthsning tho hands OF those who
| propose feariessiy TO defend property
against oil unjust attacks. No In
| dividuai. no corporation obeying the
law has anything 10 fear from this
administration.
RidHT OF WAGE WORKERS
II very earnestly hope that the leg
is1aSior which deals with the regula-
tion OF corporations engaged In inter-
state business will also deal with the
rights and interest OF the wageworkers
employed by those corporations. Action
was taken by the congress last year
limiting tho number OF hours that rail-
way employees should be employed.
Tho law is q good one, but X In prac-
tice Il proves necessary 10 strengthen
Il, u must be strengthened. We have
now secured national employers
liability law, but ultimately more
far.reaohing and thorough going law
must bs passed. ~ In monstrous that
q man or woman who is crippled In nm
industry, even as tho result OF taxi
ing what are the necessary risks OF tho
occupation, should be required to boar