The Washington herald., 1908-02-01

Labor and Bnsiness Conditions.
We are a nation of workers Idlers
are comparatively few. Our people are
employed in a vast network Of activities.
We must respect the demands Of industry
and be solicitous to promote the welfare
Of those who in agriculture. In manu-
facture. and In the various enterprises
incident 10 the exchanges Of commerce
are contributing to the sum Of national
effort. The prosperity OF the nation
means the prosperity Of its millions Of
toilers We are 50 interdependent that
any disturbance OF dislocation has a tar
reaching effect, and their most injurious
/ conseQue noes are borne by those least
able to endure disaster-the wage earners
and the men Of limited resources We
desire TO see the opportunities Tor LABOR
protected and enlarged the conditions of
/ labor improved the reasonable adjust
ment Of controversies. and above al We
should seek to maintain stability ana con
ideuce In order that the talent Of our
people for productive industry may have
The widest scope for honorable employ
ment and that we may enjoy to the
greatest possible extent that widely diff
fused prosperity and happiness, TO which
we are entitled by virtue Of our resources
ard our energy.
constitutional Government.
"In tins country progress cannot be
made save in harmony with our constitu-
uonal system The Constitution in It's
entirety must be observed The power
derived from the people must be exercised
II
down. The functions Of each department
Of executive. legislative. and
judiclal-are defined. and the response
/ biEties Of each department are fixed. he
people have not only thus marked out the
spheres and limited the powers of their
representatives, but the provisions of our
constitutions are also checks upon the
hasty and iBc0nsideTate action Of the
people themselves. According To our
system the controlling will of the people
( is found IN constitutional provisions. as
/ Interpreted and applied by the courts,
and these must remain effective until the
people change them by amending 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. neces-
sarv local autonomy Is secured. u is es-
seutial TO the permaaeEce Of free institu-
tions that each community should attend
to its particular affairs; and through the
powers and responsibilities Of local ad-
ministration, independence, public spirit
and capacity for self-goveHmeHt are de
veloped. which not only secure the en-
forcement Of local rights. but make pos
sible tie just exercise OF the powers OF
the central authority over those matters
lying outside the proper limits Of local
jurisdiction.
There are two dangers. The ore is
that serious evils Of national scope may
go unchecked because Federal power is
not exercised The other lies in an un-
necessary exercise Of Federal power. bur
deuing the central authority with an at
tempted control which would result in
the impairment Of proper local autonomy.
and extending it SO widely as 10 defeat its
purpose It must be remembered that an
eyl is not the proper subject Of FederM
cost izauce merely because it may exist
IN many States. All sorts of evils exist
u 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 it cannot be re-
garded as a policy OF unwise cenraIiza-
ti0n that wherever there Is "a serious evil
demanding governmental correction which
afFiicts Interstate commerce. and hence is
beyond the control Of the States. the
power of Congress should unhesitatingly
be exercised.
But we are not left 10 the c0usid-ra-
tion Of general principles Of governmental
action. Congress has the power given 20
II by the Constitution. Il cannot. If il
would invade the rights Of the States.
10 has express authority 60 regulate com
merce among the several States The
scope of the Interstate commerce clause
and the boundaries Of the Federal powers
which it authorizes are the subject Of
determination by the Supreme Court.
Congress can act only within the limits
so fixed, and in acting within those lin
its. the question is not one Of power but
Of the nature Of the evil and of the ap-
pT0priate remedy for it's cure
Having stated these principles. 7 shall
define briefly my position with regard to
certain particular questions.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
There is no matter Of greater impor-
tance than the conservation and develop
meat Of our natural resources. It is Of
the most urgent necessity that our for
ests should be- protected. and that these
priceless treasures should be preserved
from ruthless destruction. All the prop
erty Of the people should be safeguarded
from spoliation. ] am also deeply inter
ested I'm the development Of inland water
ways. 10 provide increased and adequate
facilities for our growing commerce We
should further do all in our power to ex-
tend the area of productive activity
through irrigation and suitable plans Of
reclamation. The common right in our
public lands should be protected from
enCroachment and wherever govern
mental power may properly he exercised
the sole object should be the promotion
Of the general welfare, and all schemes
Of rapacity should be frustrated.
Railroads.
I do not believe in governmental own
ership of railroads. But regulation Of in
terstate transportation is essential to pro-
tect the people from unjust discrimina-
tions and TO secure safe, adequate. and
impartial service upon reasonable terms
in accordance with the obligations of
common carriers. In order 20 have super
vision which is both thorough and just
an administrative board is necessary. I
may assume that my attitude with re-
gard TO this matter is so well under
stCpd through my recommendations in re-
lat.on 20 the enactment of the public
service commissions law in this State
that an extended statement is unneces-
saTv.
- approve the recent extension Of the
authority Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission by what is known as the