Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-09-24
PARKER SEES DANGER
IN corporate power
WARNS THE PUBLIC AGAINST
EFFORTS TO CONTROL
LEGISLATION.
SPEAKS OF BIG CROWD
AT JAMESTOWN FAIR

speaker Declares Ihat Uhlteo Com.
mercial Interests Are Plotting to
Undermine the Very Principle on
Which the Government Is Formed.
Norfolk, Va, Sept. 1S.-Former
Judge Alton B. Parker of New York,
former Democratic candidate for presl-
dent of the United States, and Sam.
uel w. Mccall, member Of congress
from Massachusetts, made the princi-
pal addresses at the Constitution day
celebration at the jamestown exposi-
ton Tuesday. The ceremonies were
In commemmoration of the one hun
dred and twentieth anniversary of the
adoption of the federal constitution
by the constitutional convention of
1887, over which George Washington
presided. The weather was ideal and
the attendance at the exposition was
large.
Judge Parker was at his best, and
spoke with great force and earnest
ness.
In the course of his speech Judge
Parker said:
ut is not too much to say that 1t
is proposed to-day here in our land
merely with a view to attaining great.
er efficiency to substantially change
the form of government of these
United States of America by the crea-
ton of judicial commissions to deal
with special subjects; by the confer
ring upon such commissions of legisla-
tive functions through delegation of
power from congress, and by then
committing to the executive the unre-
stricted power of appointment and re-
moval Of their members.
This is actual substitution of an
other theory of government. This is
annulment Of the underlying doctrines
upon which our existing government
rests. These powers are to be exer-
cised then by the executive to the ex-
ciusion of the legislative and judicial
by an expansion beyond its terms; by
an expansion beyond it's spirit; by an
expansion beyond its purpose, Of the
language Of the constitution.
Names Cause of Evil.
"Some one has said: oh, liberty!
What crimes have been committed in
thy name. We might say to-day: oh
commerce! What theories are sought
to be advanced under thy cloak
1.-THE example which stands at the
threshold is the interstate commerce
clause of the constitution which covers
1 fv 10 ha al
for federal expansion. That clause
In the constitution was conceived in
spirit of fairness and equality be.
tween the states; that clause was EN-.
bodied in the constitution for the pur-
4 pose OF protecting one state against
another, and to prevent the exercise Of
arbitrary discrimination by any state
against the citizens OF another. Those
were the aims and objects Of the
clause and they should and they dc
define its spirit and its purpose. But
how Is 1t proposed to expand it in
application to-day, If we are to trust
the open declarations which have beer
publicly advanced? Since the prod
} ucts Of any industry may be
come the subject OF interstate com
, merce; since a portion of the prod
ucts OF almost every industry actually
enter into interstate commerce, it II
! argued that the national government
under the interstate commerce CLAUSE
can regulate within the states al
production.
Constitution Being Attacked.
None can deny that effort is afoo
to enhance the powers OF the fedora
Il government: that an opportune tim,
for aggression In that direction ha,
been chosen; that the people ar,
aroused over abuses which have come
to light, and that the moment ha,
been seized upon to lead an assault
/ upon constitution as nearly idea
/ to-day as when the Fathers drafted l
and the states and their people ap
proved It. All the rascalfty which ha
been uncovered, say the leaders of thu
movement would have been avoide,
had the federal government exercise,
the power that the states have beel
allowed to exercise. Strip the stat
a governments OF their control over al
corporations, let the federal govern
ment create them or license them, lie
the federal government control pre-
duction as well as transportation, an,
all will be well. Let congress b,
statute confer upon the executive tn
control of all the aspects of CON
mercial life through bureaus and con
/. missions Of his own appointment,
7 Then, and not till then: will corporal
!. wrongdoing cease"
! To Demand Early Thaw Trial.