Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-29

necessary trunk lines, while the other
lines should be owned and operated by
the states.
"All that I have added since Is that
this was an Individual view, and that
I had not attempted to say whether
the plank should or should not be in
the next platform, for platforms should
be made to represent the wishes of
the voters OF the parties and not the
opinions of one man or a few men.
"In the New York speech took pains
to say that regulation ought to have
fair trial, referring especially to the
rate bill, although from my past ex-
perlence I did not believe that It would
prove efficient. l may add that the re-
fusal of the Republicans in the senate
to authorize the Interstate commerce
commission to ascertain the values of
the railroads robbed the law Of much
of It's value"
The Japanese Question
Mr.. Bryan said that he was averse to
discussing the Japanese question as to
It's entirety, because of the fact that
on this trip he was discussing the ques-
tlon, and that he did not desire to give
an expression until he had thoroughly
studied all the points, which would not
be until after he could find time fol-
lowing the close of his tour. He said
that he had very pronounced views on
the subject Of Chinese exclusion but
that he could not declare that the Jap
anese should come within the same
category as the Chinese. The Japanese
question as affecting tho schools, how
ever, he freely discussed as follows:
"The segregation of the Japanese in
the San Francisco schools Is but q
symptom of larger questionable re-
striction of Japanese immigration. on
the larger question I am not prepared
to give an opinion until / have COM
pleted the investigation that am now
making. But I do not concede the
power of the president and senate to
amend or override the constitution OF
the United States.
IF a treaty guarantees that which
the federal government Is not III a
position to fulfill, the federal govern
ment may be morally bound to answer
In damages, but 1 do not understand
that 1t can take from the states any of
the rights reserved to them by the con-
stitution. The control of the schools
has always been state matter.
IF the constitution is so construed
as to permit amendment of the consti-
tuition by the president and senate,
would advocate an amendment specifi-
cally denying such power, for the con-
stitution provides a form for amend
ment and this provision is nullified If
the president and the senate, without
the concurrence of the house Of repre-
sentatives and without the approval of
the states, can override it."
On Various Other Topics
AS to the Panama canal, Mr.. Bryan
said that the question of labor was one
as to whether American labor was OBJ
tainable for the work and whether
it was possible for the Americans to
stand the climate of the isthmus. While
he did not say 80 in direct language, he
evidently intended to convey the i'm
preston that American labor should be
given the preference.
Mr.. Bryan said that he believed
President Roosevelt was morally right
in dismissing the troop of negro SOL
diers, but as to his legal right to take
the action he did he would not say, be-
cause he had not given that side of the
affair the necessary study to form an
opinion.
In connection with this affair came
up the question of sending negro troops
to the Philippines, when Mr.. Bryan re-
marked:
THE removal of negroes further from
voters makes less cause for friction"
Mr.. Bryan said the insult of Gov
ernor Swettenham of Jamaica to Ad-
mlral Davis was not OF Sufficient i'm
portance to dignity with a discussion.
1T takes more than a fool to bring
about a rupture Of the cordial relations
between two nations" was Mr.. Bryan's
pointed comment.
Referring to the soldiers home vote,
which has long bothered leaders of both
political parties in Los Angeles county,
Mr.. Bryan said that he did not care to
discuss, because 1t was purely a local
affair, although 1t was coming up con-
stantly in some one of the various
states in which soldiers homes are To-
Gated.
Mr.. Bryan said he was heartily in
favor of the New Zealand plan of postal
voting, by means of which commercial
travellers and others who were unable
to return home to vote could send their
votes by mall under certain restric-
tions, and he indorsed the suggestion
that such plan would solve the prob
lem of the soldiers home vote.
Mr.. Bryan concluded the interview by
excusing himself from thoroughly dis
cussing some of the topics suggested.
You see," he said, IT am more con-
servative than some people imagine
Apparently the supposition was enter
tanned that I was in the habit Of jump
ing at conclusions. when, in fact, I was
giving each subject careful thought"