Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-09

: its most effective effort in the shape
, of an appeal to the old doctrine OF
states rights. OF course, there are
4 many sincere men who now believe IN
q, unrestricted individualism IN business
Just as there were formerly many
a, sincere men who believed in slavery
that is, in the unrestricted right OF
: an individual to oWn another indi-
vidual. These men do not themselves
have great weight, however. The cf-
fcCtiVc fight against adequate govern
, mont control and supervision Of indi-
r vidual, and especially of corporate,
: wealth engaged in interstate business
, is chiefly done under cover; n eS-
peCially under cover Of an appeal to
states rights. 1t is not at all infrc-
qucnt to rea in the same speech a
denunciation of predatory wealth foS-
tered by special privilege and defiant
of boil the public welfare and law of
the land, and a denunciation of pre-
datory wealth fostered by special priv
ileEc and defiant of both the pubic
welfare and law of the land, and a de-
nunciation of Capitalization in the
central government of the power TO
deal with this centralized and organ-
lied wealth. OF course the policy set
forth in such twin dcnunciations
amounts to absolutely nothing, for the
first half is nullitied by the second
half. The chief reason, among the
many sound and compelling reasons,
that led to the formation OF the ma
tional government, was the absolute
need tina the union, and not the sew
eral states, should deal with interstate
and foreign commerce; and the power
to deal with interstate commerce was
granted absolutely II plenarlly to
the central government and was cNcr-
cised completely as regards the only
instruments Of interstate commerce
known in those days-thc waterways,
the highroads, as wen as partnerships
Of individuals who then conducted all
Of what business there was. Inter
state is now chiefly con-
Quoted by railroads; II the great
corporation has supplanted the mass
Of small partnerships or individuals.
The proposal to make he national
government supreme over, and
therefore to give it complete control
over, the railroads and other I3Stfu-
mcnts OF interstate commerce, is mere
~ a proposal to carry out to the let
ter one of the prime purposes. II not
the prime purpose, for which the con-
stitution was founded. 1t does not
represent GENERALIZATION. 1t represents
merely the Acknowledgement of the
patent fact that Capitalization has al
ready come in business. If this ire
sponsible outside business power is
to be controlled in the interest OF the
general public it can only be con-
trolled in one way, by giving adequate
power Of control to the one sovereign
ty capable of exercising sufh power
the national government. Forty or
fifty separate state governments eau
not exercise the power over corpora
tons doing business in most or all or
them; first, because they absolutely
lack the authority to deal with intcr-l
state business in any form; and. sec
ond, because OF the inevitable conflict
Of authority sure 10 arise in Tn" et-
fort to enforce different kinds OF state
regulation. often Inconsistent with II
another and sometimes oppreFSlNe L"
themselves. such divided authority
can not regulate commerce with Wis
dom and effect. The central govern
ment is the only power which, with
out oppression, can nevertheless
thoroughly and adequately Cohtroi
and SUPERVISE the largo corporations.
To abandon the effort for national
control means to abandon the effort
for all adcGuatc control yet to
render likely continual bursts OF ac-
ton by state legislatures, which can
not achieve the purpose sought ior'
but which can do n great deal or dame
age to the corporation Wlthput coh-N
ferring any real benefit 10 the puDlfJ
believe that the more ~farsightcd
corporations are themselves coming To
recognize the unwisdom of the violent
they have displayed during
the last few years to regulation ana
by the national government OF
combinations engaged ia interstate
business. The truth is that We VINO
believe in This movement OF asserting
and exercising q genuine cohttoh III
the public interest, over these great
corporations have to contend against
two sots Of enemies. who, though
pominaUy opposed TO each other. are
really allies i'm preventing . proper so
lution Of the problem. There are
first. the big corporation men. ana
extreme i"ndlVidualistS among
business men. who genuinely believe
utterly unregulated buslness-that
is. I'm tho reign Of ~plutocracy; and,
second the men h being blind 10
economic movements OF the day.
believe in a movement Of repression,
than of regulation OF orpoTa-
and who deuouncc hoth inc
mower of the railroads and the eNer-
Else of the federal uuWCr which alone
really control the railroads. Those
who believe IN efficient national con-
on the other hand. do not I'm the
least object TO combinations. do NOT
in the least obiCC To cO~nCcntration IN
administration. on the con-
they favOr both. with the All
i'm portant p~royiso that there shall be
such publicity about their workings
and such thoroughRoing control over
them. as 10 insure their being In the
and not against the interest.
of the general public. We do not OBJ
iect 70 the concentration Of wealth
and administration; but we do be-
in the distribution Of wealth In {
y. - a.. Hr.H aHHHmnWH and IN col
curing TO tho public the full benefit &
N the concentrated administration
believe that with concentration IN
administration there can come both q
he advantage Of "a larger ownership !
Of a more equitable division Of
and at the same time. a bet I
Ier service TO the commonwealth. We g
tina the administration should s
for the benefit OF the many. and ,
greed and rascality. practi5ed on
D large scale, should be punished az