Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-09-09
amended by the people in accordance

pow er MitnOut NIOtdtlnS lR1 Luuud-
.~en.~i principles oI Oul gOyerAmeh,.
a. nas DeeA sugges,ed Jnat Jne
rights vi the sta,eS can iapse taTOusn
hOn-use and tuat Congress - Justll.C4
"a usurp-ng tne au.nOrity OI tne state
tuc sgd.v 4dlls " mahe proper ase
% At. WnIle tnIs aOe.r.nv uas been
advanced IN the pretenGcd interest Of
tne pcOpie, AZ . a. InsiUIOuS ana as
dangerous all assault as mas ever been
maze On our constitutional form nI
gOvernment. Ine people OF tne s,dte
can act W.tn more prOmptnuss luan
.ne people OI Ihe nation. ana IL lney
tan to act IL must pe assumed tnAt
the people OF the state prefer inac-
ton.
The real purpose that those have in
view VINO complain OF the inacton of
me STATE, is not more strict regulation
of corporations. but the relief vi cor
pOrauons from state regulation.
Ine Democratic party Iasors the
fun exercise OF the powers ol tAe gov
ernment for the protection OF the
rights of the people--each govern
ment to act within its constit tut.onal
sphere. Our platform deinanus that
federal legislation be added to. not
substituted for, state legislation.
The predatory corporations have
taken advantage OF the dual charac-
ter OF our government and have tried
&c MD behind state rights when pros
ecuted in the federal courts, and be-
mind the interstate commerce clause
OF the constitution when prosecuted in
the state courts.
There Is no twilight zone between
the nation and the state in which the
exploiting interests can take refuge
from Doth. There is no neutral
ground where, beyond the jurisdiction
Of either sovereignty, the plunderers
OF the public can find safe retreat.
AS long as a corporation confines its
activities TO the state in which IL was
created II Is subject to state regulation
only; but as soon as 1t invades inter-
state commerce it becomes amenable
TO federdI laws as well as to the laws
OF the state which created it and the
laws of the states in which 1t does
business.
How strict can these laws be? Just
a-s strict as may be necessary for the
protection of the public.
Our platform outlines the regula-
ton deemed necessary. and the regu-
lation is specifically set forth in order
that our opponents may not be able
to scare the public by predicting hurt
iuI legislation. Our Platform, unlike
the Republican platform. says what I
means and means only what 1t says.
a distinction Is drawn between the
railroads and other CORPORATIONS. The
railroad, being Q. qussl. public corpora
ton and, as such, being permitted to
exercise part of the sovereignty of
the state, is subject to regulation at
the hands of both the nation and the
state, but this regulation is intended,
not to cripple the railroads but to
increase their efficiency. The peop.e
at large are as much Interested as the
stockholders are in the suCct ssful op-
Grafton of the railroads. Their own
pecuniary interests as we'll as their
sense of justice would restrain them
from doing anything that wouid i'm
pair the road or reduce its efficiency.
The travelling public is vitaily inter-
ested in the payment of wages sufti-
cient TO command the most Intelligent
service, for life as well as property
is in the hands of those who operate
the trains, guard the switches and
keep the track in repair.
The Democratic party would dis
| tinguish between those railroad own
ers, directors and managers who, rec
ognizing their obligation to the public.
earn their salaries by conscientious
devotion to the work entru Ited to
them, and those INSCRIPTIONS Ma
I ,Iv7,l 4
as mere pawns in a great gambling
game without regard to the rights Of
employees or to the interests of the
patrons. 1t Is in the interest Js hon
est railroading and Legitimate invest
ment that the Democratic marty seeks
to ascertain the present value Of the
| railroad properties and to p'ev an fer
the future the watering of st0Ck and
the issue of fictitious capitaiizaton;
and it is in the interest of both the
railroads and the public that it seeks
only such reductions in transporta-
ton rates as can be- made without
wage reduction, without deterlora-
tion in the service and without In
justice to legitimate investments. The
Democratic party insists that in the
the state governments and the federal
government shall act up to, and yet
within, their powers; for nothing else
will restore the confidence and good
will that ought to exist between the
railroads and the people. In dealing
with manufacturing and trading cor
poratlons the Democratic party draws
a distinction between those corpora
tions-and they constitute the great
majority OF all the manufacturing and
trading orporations-which are en-
gagged in legitimate effort to supply
what the consumers need. and the
very few corporations which are seek
Ing by constituencies methods to take
advantage OF the public on the one
hand, while on the other hand they
bankrupt competitors, oppress the
producers of raw materials and deal
arbitrarily with their employees. IL
endeavors to protect the innocent cor
porations by visiting punishment upon
those pOrporatiO which ara gtif1tV Of .