The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-09-17
Federal Government Be-
coming tro niger
WAR WITH TRUSTS
A Conflict in Which Tie state. ffd'c
Been Sent to The Itear-PoW-
ers Lost BY the States TO
the Central Government
Arc Conc EoreNer.
Are Gone Forever.
NV the Associated Press.)

Buffalo y. Y, sept ia TO-DAY ?
session of the American social Science
Association the address OF Martih ~.
Littleton, of New York. on lhe D7iil
Of Events was read by secretary
Russo. The address follows:
In the development of a little more
than a hundred years we nave passeu
from a moral revolution to National
and International materlaiisln
Whatever doubt exists as TO the
growing power of the Union as a
nation. disappeared when It was seen
how far the Government had gone
in the assertion of Its authority III
carrying on and concluding the war
between the States. Throughout all
the years of our history the work
Of bringing forth u great
had gone on. This steady
insistent force, driven by the most
natural and powerful of human I'M
pulses. that is. the desire Tor gam,
gradually grew beneath every other
question and pushed them out Of the
way of It's development. Now 1t
reaches the remOtest corners of the
country and stimulates the energy or
our people, native and foreign born.
1t is simply and plainly an irrepres-
sible desire to get wealth. AS a re-
u VI III = 80
and as the outcome of experiment and
years Of evolution many industries OF
the cOuntr nave come under the alb
solute control of little groups of men.
who have finally to make z
complete conquest in their particular
field of activity.
ontrOi of Trusts.
These industrial concerns reached
out in every direction for allies in or
der to strengthen themselves. They
did everything which, according to
their long, hard training in the COM
p~etitive struggle, had been found help
full in the race for wealth and power.
1t was not long before there were eff
forts to subject them to control of
some authority. The many methods
of incorporation and the many ave-
nues open to escape these sporadic eff
forts to control them made 1t practi-
cally impossible to subject them to a
firm and constant control. These great
industries have grown past the day of
competition, past the direct influence
of popular sentiment, past the control
of local communities, past the con-
scious reach of the State; and as they
have grown they have taken with
them, into the public relations which
they inevitably sustain, all of the
shreWd trading instincts of the smaller
trader. Without doubt there came
with their growth certain evils and ex-
cesses which required correction, and
1t is beyond dispute that the correction
of these evils could not be safely left
to mere chance or change. AT the
present time we are witnessing a pc
riod of investigation and restraint,
which, following so closely on the
heels of a great campaign for restored
confidence" seem to prove the sporad-
ic natur Of our economic reforms.
There were certain great industries
= 49, - na,tr nrD q
sort of check upon some branches of
their activity. They had come to feel
that they were securely ~intrenched and
were not subject to any authority ex-
cept the self regulating influence Of
trade and rivalry.
ROOseyclt's Three Dangers.
When President Roosevelt came to
power with a direct commission from
the people, he came at q time when
these questions had to be met or evad-
ed. President Roosevelt was con-
fronted with three distinct dangers,
when he undertook to apply the rem
edy.
The first was that he would precipi-
tate a general war on thrift and en-
terprise in an effort to lop off the
evils manifest in some industries.
The second was, that he would
wrench the power of the national gov
eminent in his effort. to extend its
jurisdiction of the new subject matter.
The thlrd was. that is his resolute
endeavor to make government an in
for the betterment of man
kind, he would unWittlngly recognize
the most advanced forces of socialism
and give to them great encourage
ment.
The first of these would be acute,
disastrous, but not irretrievable.
The second would be f-ar-reaching.
evolutionary and fatally permanent.
The third would be long in coming,
not Immediately felt, but essentially a
recognized part of the policy of a
great nation hereafter.
Resolutely he set himself to the
task, and we are now concerned with
just what the precise result Of this
struggle will be.
1t is not questioned that he has es-
tablished the supremacy OF the ma
tional government over every and all
manner of industrial giants. 1t is
not disputed tina he has caused a
higher standard of economic justice
and honesty to be erected in these
very industries. 1t cannot be con-
tended that he has not employed all
the powers of his great office in what
he earnestly believed was for the bet
ternltnt OF mankind.
Three Serious Questions.
IL 1 - 1 icOeNic4h NHoN SiC"
out of his assertion of the power of
the national government, is whether it
does not mean that every
great question must be solved by the
Federal government alone.
The second serious question that
grows out of his accusation against
certain industries. is whether it has
not already gone far enough and al
ready threatens to create an acute
attack of destroyed confidence.
The third serious question Is
whether he has not unconsciously but
surely committed US as a nation to
the primary theory of the most en-
llghtened form of socialism No pro-
olefn is so modern or so complex
that 1t may not be me, under the re-
serve powers of the people acting
through the States. Whether the
states have suffered these problems
10 go unsolved is not the question.
On the other hand, the National
Government, exercising no original
powers and incapable eff initiative, I'M
bending in its fixed limitations is not
adapted as an instrument to meet the
changing forms of industry and the
growing complications of a develop
ing country. Logically therefore. it
would seem that the State. as a SOW
ereignty extending to every denart-
ment not forbidden by the Constitu-