Potosi journal., 1907-12-11

It's own seinsn purposes.
The President is coming 10 for
a good deal of criticism, principal
ly from the Democrats, On account
of bis policy that seeks to place
more power with the federal gov
errmcnt that it may be better able
to deal with the constant tendency
of the centraiizstion Of capital.
There is much divided opinion as
to how these conditions may best
be met, the President and many of
his adherents believing that it is
only by giving the federal govern
ment the power to control them
without accomplishing their dis
solution that the best results to
both the people and the vested in
terests may be obtained; while the
state rights zealots maintain that
if left alone each state is competent
to meet the situation as it has de-
veloped within its Own boundaries.
In viewing this matter We must
take in consideration the important
fact that the community represent
ed by the United States as a whole
has been drawn closer together
than were the communities Of the
individual states when the rule of
self-government was made an es-
tablished principle of our political
system, and the operations of con-
centra.ed capital having spread
over the whole community without
distinction in its application to any
particular state or section of the
country, it would certainly argue
that federal authority in regulation
Of these operations would be more
direct and effective than if the con-
troll were dissipated among the
states. The executive control of
concentrated capital is distinct and
well defined in common center,
and the people to meet this power
Of centralized wealth, it is clear,
should center more power in the
executive head of their govern
ment. The best remedy for a pub
lie abuse is quick restraint. We
have one of the best evidences Of
this in the way the Republic of
Mexico has met and solved the
railroad problem, where the rail-
roads are regulated for the well
fare of the people first and then
the vested capital is given its
rights. To do this the executive
head Of the Mexican government
went so far as to quietly obtain q
majority of the railroad shares,
using the surplus funds of the na-
ton for the purpose, and then In
forming congress what it had done.
This looks like the usurpaion O.
power. and despotism, but it is one
of the cases where this power was
applied for the good of the people
of the country affected. Our rail
road kings were preparing to enter
Mexico and exploit the people
there as they have for years been
doing here, when the executive de-
ipartment took quick action to pre-.
vent it. In the United States such
authority is only delegated upo1
congress, snd the results are fully
apparent in the conditions that ar,
now before US for remedial action
| We would not see the Legislative
branch of our congress abolished,
but we belieye it would prov,
beneficial if that branch would Civ,
more direct authority to the execu
tive branch. Congress may auib
bic and quibble for years as to th'
way to proceed, because there ar
so many conflicting views; but i,
the corrective power were give,
Ito the executive of the nafion i
could be made apply at once
| After all, be believe that the pub
lie opinion of the whole nation i
more clearly expressed in the na,
the people place at the head of th'
lgoEernmeBt than it is in the differ
lent elements that GO to make a