New-York tribune., 1908-02-01

merely by the creation of new forms of govern
ment Against every attempt TO make goNeih-
ment the instrument of sehsh PURPOSES rverv
franchise granted by the people is a prlVlL,e9S;s
justified only by considerations OF the puutIis
welfare, and the conditions of its exercise shuu
be such as to insure the performance of puphc
obligation. There must be no encroachmene on on
the common right for the purpose OF setNins r,e
interests of the few at the expense OF the many
RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
OF fundamental Importance also is respect Tor
the rights of property. This is the sec4lItS ol
thrift 1t is of even greater Importance 10 the
poor than to the rich. The unlawIui acquisItio,'
of property should be prevented or pu',.SiSu ,hi;
The conditions underlying grants OF puoLic
franchises should be enforced But property
lawfully acquired must be safesuardeo
LABOR AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
We are nation of workers ldiers are Vu,. =;
paratively few. Our people are elnploseu p. -. .ba
vast network of activities We must respeot eIso
demands of industry and be solicitous 10 pro-
mote the welfare of those who IN aericui.u ae! ~
manufacture and in the various eilleI e Pi 50 -
t,Ib,,tins 70 the sum of national effort. The
prosperity of the nation means the prosperity y.
its millions of toilers. We are so i,et . Ear
that anv disturbance or dislocauoi mas i
reaching effect and their most injurious cotlSe c
quences are borne by those least able TO eti9uI @
disaster-the wage earnerS and the men Vi mn
tied resources We desire to see the opportunl
ties for labor protected and enlarged the tUnCt .
tions for labor improved, the reasonapie duJuS,
seek to maintain stability and commence, III
order that the talent of our people tof Pfouuc'iNS
industry may have the widest scope 1or .oiiV, m ~
able employment and that we may ehJoA 70 l
greatest possible extent that widely dlHuseo
prosperity and happiness 10 which we are en-
titled by virtue of our resources and our energy
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
In this country progress cannot be MADE save
in harmony with our constitutional :! s'eti. hIod
Constitution in its entirety must be observed,
The power derived from the people must pe
exercised upon the conditions Whlch IleS haNe
laid down. The functions OF each uePdi tiiiert' ~
of poYernment-executive. Legislative and judi
cial-are defined. and the responsibilities OF
each department are fixed. The people nave iloS
only thus marked out the spheres and llmlted
the powers Of their represe natives put tne
provisions of our constitutions are also chethS
upon the hasty and inconsiderate action OF tIe
people themselves. According TO our system
the controlling will of the people is founo IN
constitutional provisions. as interpreted and ap-
piled by the courts and these must remain
effective until the people change them by amend
ing the Constitution in the prescribed manner
FEDERAL AND STATE POWERS.
We must also recognize the division of powers
between the federal and state governments
Through the latter. necessary local autonomy is
secured. 1t is essential TO the permanence OF
free Institutions that each community shouo
attend TO its particular affairs and through the
powers and responsibilities OF local aonllhlSud-
ton independence, public spirit, and capacty for
self government are developed, winch not ON!
sac1,Ta the enforcement of local rights but make
central authority those matters lying out
siGe the proper limits of local jurisdiction
These Considerations more and not less
important because OF the development or inter-
state commerce and the powerful forces in the
world Of business which in their practical opera
ton ignore state lines. And the necessary eX-
tension Of the activities of the federal govern
rlent a. 10 matters inevitably committed &c It's
control should make the more solicitous that
the administration of state governments should
show the highest degree of efficiency
There are two dangers The one is that
serious evils of national scope may go un-
checked because federal power Is not exercised
| The other lies in unnecessary exercise of
federal power burdening the central authority
with an attempted control which would result
| in the impairment OF proper local autonomy, and
extending ii so widely as to defeat its purpose.
! 1t must be remembered that an evil is not the
proper subject of federal CognizanCe merely
| because il may exist in many states. All sorts
| of evils exist in many states which should be
| corrected by the exercise Of local power, and
they are not evils of federal concern although
/ they may be widespread.
| on the other hand il cannot be regarded as
! 2 poIicv of rnwise centra lization that wherever
| correction which aff7icts interstate commerce
| and hence is beyond the control Of the states,
| the power of Congress should unhestatingly be
| exercised.
| But we are not left to the consideration of
| general principles Of governmental action. Con-
| gress has the power given to il by the Constitu-
| ton L cannot. if it would. invade the rights
! OF the states. 1t has express authority to regu-
! late commerce among the several states The
! sfrpe # tha interstate commerce clause and the
| boundaries Of the federal powers which it au-
/ rhor3zcs are the subject Of determi nation by the
| supreme Court. Congress can act only within
! the limits so fixed, and in acting within those
| limits sha question is not one Of power but of
| The nature of the evil and of the appropriate
! remedy for its cure.
Having stated these principles shall define
| briefly my position with regard to certain par
| ticular Questions.
| CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
! There IS no matter of greater Importance than
| the conservation and development Of our natural