The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-09
BRYAN TALKS
TO PRECINCT
Committeeman
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S0nuUti .6ut 6tu
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quiring legislative attention so numer-
ous, that 1t would be impossible to have
all of the work done at the national CAPT.
I toll. One has only to examine the bills
introduced in each congress, and then add
| to the numberrthe bills introduced at the
| legislative sessions OF each of the forty
six states TO realize that IL would be
| beyond the power of any body of men
to legislate intelligently on the multitude
OF questions that require consideration.
State Division Necessary.
mot only would national legislators
lack the time necessary for investiga-
| ton, and therefore lack the information
necessary TO wise decision. but the in
| difference of representatives in one part
OF the country 10 local matters in other
parts of the country would invite the
abuse of power. Then, too. the seat of
government would be so far from the
great majority of the voters as to pre-
vent that scrutiny of public conduct which
| is essential to clean and honest govern
ment. The union of the separate states
under a federal government offers the
only plan that can adapt itself to indefi-
mite extension.
Our constitution expressly reserves to
the states and to the people respective
| ly all powers not delegated to the fed
eral government and only by respecting
nope
keep the government within the reach
OF the people and responsive to the will
| of the people. Because in all disputes
as TO the relative spheres of the nation
and the states the final decision rests
with the federal courts, the tendency Is
naturally toward Capitalization. and
greater care is required to preserve the
reserved rights of the states than to
maintain the authority of the general
government.
I'm recent years another force has been
exporting an increasing influence in ex-
tending the authority of the central gov
eminent. | refer TO the great corpora
tons They prefer the federal courts to
sible device to drag liugants before Unit
ed States judges. They also prefer con-
gressional regulation to state regulation
and those interested in large corpora
tons have for years been seeking fed
eTal Incorporation. The Democratic party
will resist every attempt to obliterate
state lines, whether the attempt is made
through legislation or through judicial in
depreciation. Amendment of the organic
law by judicial Interpretation would be
destructive of constitutional government
our constitution can be amended by the
people in accordance with the terms of
the document itself, and no group OF
men, however honorable or high-minded
can usurp this power without violating
the fundamental principles of our gov
eminent.
Congress Not Justified.
1T has been suggested that the rights
of the states can lapse through non-use
and that congress is justified In usurp-
ing the authority of the state if the state
fails TO make proper use of it. While
this doctrine has been advanced in the
pretended interest of the people, il is as
insidious and as dangerous an assault as
has ever been made on our constitutional
form OF government. The people of the
To
the people of the nation and if they fail
To act, it must be assumed that the peo-
pie OF the state prefer inaction.
THE real purpose that those have in
view who complain of the inaction of the
state, is not more strict regulation of
corporations, but the relief of CORPORA
tons from state regulation.
The Democratic party favors the full
exercise of the powers of the govern
ment for the protection of the rights of
the people-each government to act with
in its constitutional sphere. Our platform
demands that federal legislation be added
to. not substituted for, state legislation
The predatory corporations have taken
advantage of the dual character of our
government and have tried to hide behind
state rights when prosecuted in the fed
eral courts and behind the interstate COM
merce clause of the constitution when
prosecuted in the state courts.
No Twilight Zone.
There Is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state in which the ex-
| plotting interests can take refuge from
both. There is no nebtral ground where.
| beyond the jurisdiction of either soyer-
| eighty, the plunderers of the public can
| find a safe retreat. AS long as a corpora
| ton confines its activities to the state in
which 1t was created. ii is subject to
state regulation only; but as soon as it in
Vades interstate commerce IL becomes
amenable to federal laws as we'll as the
/ laws of the state which created il and the
laws of the states in which 1t does bust
| ness.
How strict can these laws be? Just as
strict as may be necessary for the protec-
| ton of the public.
/ Our platform outlines the regulation
! deemed necessary, and the regulation is
/ specifically set forth in order that our op-
| ponents may not be able TO scare the pub
! lie by predicting hurtful legislation. Our
/ platform, unlike the Republican platform.
says what ii means and means only what
| il says.
| a distinction is drawn between the rail-
| roads and other corporations. The rail-
road, being a quasi-pubiic corporation
and, as such, being permitted to exercise
! a part OF the sovereignty OF the state, Is
/ subject to regulation at the hands of both
/ the nation and the state, but this regu-
| lation is intended. not to cripple the rail-
| roads. but to increase their efficiency
/ The people at large are as much interest
ed as the stockholders are in the success
! full operation of the railroads. Their own