The Washington times., 1908-09-09
Outlines Views of Denver
Platform Regarding Con
troll of Corporations.
= THINKS FEDERAL LAW
IS NOT ADEQUATE
Defends State Rights in Super
vision of Big Business Inter
Railroads Hit, Too.

PEORIA. H., Sept. s-Wniam J.
Bryan spoke here today to a large
crowd. He took for his subject, The
state and the Nation" and made it the
basis for an elaboration OF the party's
attitude toward corporation regulation
and the question of State rights.
Mr.. Bryan spoke IN part as follows:
THE success Of our system Of govern
ment rests upon the careful observance
Of the constitutional division of power
bStweeu the State ana the nation. A
kumber of expressions have been coined
10 describe the relations existing be-
tween the Federal Government and the
several subdivisions, but no one has
been more felicitOus in definitions than
jefferson or more accurate in drawing
lines of demarkatiOn. He presented the
historic position OF the Democratic party
when he declared himself in favor Of
the support Of the State governments
in all their rights. as the most compe-
tent administrations for our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwarls
against anIi-republiCan tendencies, Do
and 1.-THE preservation Of the General
Government in its whole constitutional
vigor, as the sheet anchor of our safety
at home and peace abroad" The Dem
Ocratic platform. adopted at Denver,
quotes the language Of Jefferson and
declares that il expresses the party S
position at this time.
Corporations Favor Federalism.
IN recent years a force has been eN-
ertiug an increasing influence in eN-
tending the authority OF the central
Government / refer 10 the great cor
poratIous. They prefer the Fedora
courts 10 the State courts. ecS employ
every possible device 90 drag liJiSants
before United States judges They also
prefer Congressional regulation 10 state
regulation, and those interested in large
corporations have for years been seek
ing Federal Incorporation. The Demo
cratic party will resist every attempt
10 obliterate State lines, whether the
attempt is made through legislation or
through judicial Interpretation. Amend
ment of the organic law by judicial IN
terpretatiOn would bee destructive of con-
stitutiOnal government our Consll'u-
ton can be amended by the people in ac-
cordance with the terms OF the docu-
nent itself md no group OF men, now
even honorable OF nigh minded can
.usIIrp this power without violating the
fundamental principles of our Govern
ment-
State Rights Do Not Lapse.
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 1t.
While this doctrine has been advanced
I'm the pretended interest OF the people,
il is as insidious and as dangerous an
assault as has ever been mace on our
constitutional form or government
The Democratic party IaVOrS the
fun exercise Of the powers Of the Gov
eminent for the protection OF the rights
of the pcOple-each government 70 acI
within its constitutional sphere. Our
platform demands that Federal legisla-
tiOn be added TO, not substituted Tor,
State legislation.
THE predatory corporations have
taken advantage Of the dual character
of our Government and have tried 20
hide behind state rights when prose
Cuted in the Federal courts and be
hind the interstate commerce. clause
of the Constitution when prosecuted In
the State courts
There Is no Twilight Zone.
There is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state in whish the eX-
plotting interests can take refuge from
both There is no neutral ground
where. beyond the jurisdiction Of either
sovereignty. the plunderers Of the pub
lie can md safe retreat. As long as
a corporation confines its activities 10
the state IN which 10 was created, II is
subject TO State regulation only but
as soon as Il invades interstate COM
merce it becomes amenable to Federal
laws as we'll as TO the laws of the
State which created 1t and the laws of
the States iu which 10 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 Teguia-
ton deemed necessary, and the regula-
ton Is specifically set forth in order
that our opponents may not be able to
scare the public by predicting hurtful
legislation. our platform, unlike the
Republican platform, says what It
means and means only what il says.
Railroads Are Different.
"A distinction is drawn between the
railroads and other corporations. The
railroad. being a quasi-pubHc corpora
ton and. as such. being permitted to
exercise q part of the sovereignty o:
the state. is subject 10 regulation at the
hands Of both the nation and the state,
but this regulation is intended, not 70
cripple the railroads but TO increase
their efficiency.
Democracy Makes Distinction.
The Democratic party would dis
tinguish between those railroad owners
directors and managers who, recogniz-
ing their obligation 10 the public, earn
their salaries by conscientious devotion
to the work entrusted 20 them, and
those INSCRIPTIONS .Napoleons of FL
nance who use railroads as mere