The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-25
GIVES HIS VIEWS
Senator TiIIman Talks on Ques-
tons fthe Day.
TOURED MANY STATES

SAYS PlutOcrat Press Has Misled PeO-
pie Regarding Real Issues-Thinks
That American People Will Never
Be "Bamboozled" by Corporation
Interests-Says Capitalization Will
be Vital Issue in Coming Campaign
Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, af-
ter visiting thirty states since the.
adjournment of congress, and meet
ing thousands of people, gives the
Hearst New Service at San Francisco
his observations on the vital ques-
tions of the hour and issues that will
predominant in the coming p~resden-
tial campaign. He does not discuss
candidates or politicians, because he
says he does not know anything
about what they are doing in the
way of political combinations and
tickets.
The one significant transaction or
fact that has come to the front since
the adjournment of congress last
March is the apparent clash, or
threatened clash, between state and
national authority, in the effort to
control corporations and railroads.
Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska,
New York, Pennsylvania, North Car
olina and Alabama have passed two
cent fare bills and taken other prom
inent action in the direction Of regu-
lating charges for freight and pas
senger transportation. Governor
Hughes vetoed the New York bill.
The Pennsylvania railroad, which
owns the State, set about annullfng
the two-cent fare bill. People of 9TH
er States felt grateful except in
North Carolina and Alabama. Unit
ed States Circuit Judge Jones issued
sweeping in%junctions restraining the
state officials from enforcing the laws
The constitutionality of the law was
not attacked. 1t could not lie at
tackled, except upon the plea of con-
fiscation.
While the matter was in the pup
lie mind, the plutocratic press teemed
with editorials and cartoons, ali To-
tended to direct the attention OF the
people to the ghost of state rights,
which we we're told was shot to death
In 81 and IS. The country was led
to suppose that North Carolina and
GovernorG Glenn were attempting a re-
vival of the old ante-bellum doctrine
In truth, these organs of Morgan.
Hartman, Rockefeller, ct al, have at
tempted to mislead the people n
bolster up the Root idea OF national
authority upon absolutely 1aise
grounds.
when Judge Prichard and Jones
stand up and proclaim in laundering
tones 1--WE are the nation; we nave
the and authority to protect
vested interests and the state shall
not destroy the property of the rail-
roads," they wave their arms frantl-
cally and the ghost of Calhoun Is con-
iured from under the bed. The bid
It be gone. People who have eyes
and who examined this affair closely.
saw, looking I'VE the judges shoul-
ders, the grinning faces of the rail-
road magnates-and the judges are
mere m%annikins, obeying the ORDERS
of their former employers.
The American people will never be
bamboozled and driven by fax ap
meals to the national spirit, invoked
TO protect the Hartman, Morgan
Rockefeller gang in their efforts tc
compel producers of the country u
nav tribute to them and dividends Oil
watered stock.
The u]rsurpations of power by the
federal judiciary and the absolute
sovereignty by many federal Judge
in the interests of the trusts and tn
necessity for congressional action II
clearly defining and laying down tn
jurisdiction and power of fedora
courts. will attract more
than the great question of regulatlns
trusts themselves.
In0lCdl uSuI DdIlOh oho
es and co-relative questions-the t"'
are interlocked and n hinges on the
other. as President Roosevelt recent
" recognized when he made the IS
she in 1904 and 1905, that the rail-
road rate fixed by the commission
should 20 into effect Immediately am
stick there till reversed by the courts.
Of course, we all know he surrender
cd on this important point and thaN
Aldrich came off victor. h bit OF
lepislatives history turns the light On
the striking fact that in North Gar
oIina the attempt was made to dc
iust. what the president declared
oil railroads ought to be compelleh
tn do. But the federal court bhtteo
in and said they could not do 1t, but
they did.
The Root idea of centralizatloa
will be the vital issue In the mex
PRESIDENTIAL campaign. The ROO. locs
will he prss:ed by the Rcpuhllcan'
and Roosevelt; the Democrats VIII
naturally and inevitably taN" /"
other side. o.,
This nation must speak th"ousf
congress and define the powers u
federal courts that are clu'ch'us
ststes and everything else by IN
threats. ,od ~
The real and proper metaoa y
orernment control and regulation o
Susts is the other important cues
tion which must be determined IN IN
- oorDaien.