Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-09-09
THE STATE AND
THE NATION
Great Speech on the Re-
latiOns of the Two.

can we hope to keep government
within the reach OF the people and
responsive to the will OF the peo-
pie. Because In all disputes as 10
the relative spheres OF the nation
and the states the Anal decision rests
with the federal courts. the tendency
10 naturally toward Capitalization.
and greater care Is required to pre-
serve the reserved rights OF the
states than to maintain the authority
OF the general government.
In recent years another force has
been exerting an increasing influence
In extending the authority OF the
central government. refer TO the
great corporations. They prefer the
federal courts to the state courts.
and employ every possible device 70
drag litigants before United States
judges. They also prefer congress
sional regulation to state regulation.
and those interested in large corpo-
rations have for years been seeking
federal incorporation. The demo-
cratic party win resist every attempt
to obliterate state lines, whether the
attempt is made through legislation
or through judicial Interpretation.
Amendment OF the organic law BY
judicial Interpretation would be de-
struetive OF constitutional govern
ment; our constitution can be amend
ed by the people In accordance with
the terms OF the document itself,
and no group OF men. however honor
able or high minded, can uHnFp this
power without violating the funda-
mental principles Of our govern
ment.
It has been suggested that the
rights Of the states can lapse through
non-use, and that congress IL justl-
fed In usurplng the authority OF the
state n the state fails to make proper
use Of II, While this doctrine has
been advanced IN the pretended inter-
est of the people. II IL a. inRidloua
and as dangerous an assault as has
ever been made on our constitutional
form OF government. The people OE
the state can act with more prompt
ness than the people OF the nation.
aud II they fail TO act, It must be
assumed that the people OF the state
prefer inaction.
The real purpose that those have
In view who complain Of the mac
ton Of the state is not more strict
regulation corporation. bat the
relief OF corporations from state
regulation.
The democratic party favOrs the
full exercise OF the powers OF the
government for the protection OF the
rights of the people--eaeh govern
ment to act within It's 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 char
acter OF our government and have
tried TO hid behind state rights when
prosecuted by the federal courts and
behind the interstate commerce
clause Of the constitution when prose-
cuted In the state courts.
There Is no twilight zone between
the nation and the state In which
the exploiting interests can take
refuge from both There Is no neu-
trail ground where, beyond the Ju-is-
dietion OF either sovereignty, the
plunderers Of the public can ind q
safe retreat. As long as a corpora
tion confines its activities to the state
in which II was created. is IL sub
ject 10 state regulation only; but
as soon as II inYades interstate COM
merce Il becomes amenAble TO fed
eral laws OF the state In which Il
does business
How strict can these laws be?
Just as strict as may be necessary
for the protection of the public.
Our platform outlines the regula-
ton deemed necessary. and the re-
guIation Is specifically set forth in
order that our opponents may not
be able TO scare the public by pre-
dieting hurtful legislation. Our plat
form. unlike the republican platform.
says what Il means and means only
what Il says.
distinction is drawn between
the railroads and other corporations.
The railroad. being a quasl-public