The sun., 1908-04-14

Where thl9 GENERALIZATION Crept IN, ~ -
plain why the Federal Government has BE-
come the patron Of the people instead Of
the arblter Of Just and definite law. Our
later tariff legislation has not been based
upon the general welfare. but upon the pat
ronage Of special interests already strong
already very influential In politics.
The opportunity OF the Democratic party
is the same all along the line 10 return 70
government by law: 10 insist upon tarih
reoonsidered In all It's definitions. adjusted
to the actual conditions OF trade and manu-
faoture, viewed, not interest by interest,
but upon the broad basis Of the country'A
needs and economies; 10 insist upon cur
rency not based upon the sale Of this. that or
the other body or class Of securities, but
upon the actual assets and soundness Of the
banks Of ISSUE redundancy checked by taxa
tlon, hazard offset by inspection for the
enforcement Of definite and uniform rules;
TO insist upon laws whether Of combination
or Of contract. Of offensive or Of defensive
action which shall be the same for the Capl-
talist and for the laborer; to insist upon the
precise fixing Of responsibility on indiVldu-
ais; TO insist. In brief. everywhere upon DELI
milton, uniform, exact, enforceable. II there
must be commissions let them be not eieou-
tive instrumentAlities having indefinite pow
ers capable OF domlneering as well az regu-
lating, but tribunals Of Easy and uniform
process acting under precise terms Of power
in the enforcement Of precise terms Of regu-
latiOn.
1t was perfectly possible, he said, TO
pick out responsible individuals and punish
them instead Of checking business In order
TO eliminate undesirable practices. Cor
porate responsibility lacked vitality and
corrected nobody.
The people he said. we're not jealous
of wealth actually earned, but OF Bpeou-
lative wealth This was predatory wealth
and was found in the stock markets, not
in the administrative Offices Of great oor-
pOratlons Prices had been advanced by
the necessity the corporation was under
to earn dividends on watered stock. The
battle cry must be Back 10 the reign Of
law!' The discretion Of executive officers
was a mere quickAand "Law. and the
Government as umpire; not discretionary
power, and the Government as master
he concluded, should he the programme
Of every man who loves liberty and the
established character Of the republic.
Senator Owen followed DR.. Wilson. Mr..
Owen got a Tousing cheer by referring to
his Indian blood and holding up a silver
medal.
|. "My Indian grandfather" said he. who
was one OF the Cherokee leaders, carried
with him this silver medal, which bears the
picture Of Jefferson on one side and this
inscription on the other: Thomas Jefferson,
President Of the United States, 1901, Peace
and Friendship and the clasped hand"
The medal was gift from Jefferson TO
his grandfather.
Senator Slmmon would not say that
the proposed law making a violation
Of the laws in restraint Of trade with
out the consent OF the Commissioner
Of Corporations crime and its viola.
ton with his consent innocuous and
innocent was scheme TO secure corpora
ton support and tribute, but he would
say that II ii becomes law it Ii likely to
prove as successful a device for securing
corporation support and campaign con
trbutions this year as optional publicity
Of corporation secrets proved to be four
years ago,
Elf II becomes law" said Senator Sim
mons, 4the only thing necessary 70 make II
a complete success In this respect is 10 make
the Commissioner Of Corporations chair
man Of the Republican national executive
committee. He would then WELD as big a
stick against the corporations as did MT
Cortelyou in the campaign Of 1904.
"The country knows now what the Presi.
dent meant when he said Carry big stick,
and recourso TO schemes like this upon the
eve Of the ca mpaign throws flood OF light
upon what he meant when he added and
speak softly II is no flight Of fancy. IN
the light OF these things, TO imagine big
stick threateningly suspended over the head
OF its trembling victim and soft voice whis-
pering Be good, vote the Republican ticket,
contribute 10 the cause and you'll not be
hurt"
would be mule high, pig tight and bull
strong
but the staid old Constitution builders,
said the Senator, amid laughter. had
| never heard Of Teddy the Terrible. They
| didn't anticipate his coming into the White
| House, else they would have known that
no such penhIp Utica could restrain his
bouRiless strenuosities."
"He overshadows everybody and every.
| thing He is bigger than the big four in
the House--bigger than the big three In
| the Senate-bigger than all OF them fiung
into hotchpotch. lie Ia bigger than the
J House Of Representatives itsolf-bigger
| than the Senate-bigger than both Of them
| put together
Just let this thing go on as it is goinG
on, as il has been going OH with ever ac'
/ celebrating momentum during the last forty
years Of Republican government. and some
fine morning we will all wake up to find
State boundaries oblterated, to find State
sovereignty eKtinguished, to find Congress
and the courts subjugated and Magma
Charta. the Bill Of Rights and all ouI
hoasted privileges and immunties OF
American citizenship gone with the spectre
OF old King George stalking abroad In the
land and his incarnated spirit seated in
power In the White House"