New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-25
AArEnN ANn STaTES.

Senator Roots remarks on Tuesday
night wifi be called a STATES rights doe
trine. Just as his earnest words in 1906
were labelled n declaration for central
iZafion. But the two utterances are per
fecfly consistent. both recognizing in
an equal degree the Importance OF local
self government The first was an
urgent plea that the states do their duty
within their proper spheres. and the
second an earnest rejection OF the in
cessant suggestion that the central gov
ernment take over 90 itself for the sake
- uniformity various functions now
performed by the states. Mr.. Root put the
objection % this idea with his usual
cogency. In order "a attain uniformity
the country would have 70 sacrifice
much that + vital I'm self-government.
Said Mr. Root:
This country is too great. its pOpula-
tion TOO numerous its interests too vast
and complicated already. 10 saw nothing
Of the enormous increases that we can
see before ~ in the future. To he gov
erned as 10 the great range Of our daily
affairs from one central power in Wash
ington. After ali. the ultimate object of
ali government rs the home. the home
y here our people live and rear their
children. wish its Individual indepen-
dence. its freedom: and ] am not willing
for the sake Of facilitating the transac-
tion 81 any kind Of business 10 overturn
limitations that have been set Ey the
Constitut ion-wisely set-betweea the
powers Of the national and state gov
efnments.
The success Of local self government
Il \
variety 81 lis appeal 10 the citizens Ex-
cessive Capitalization would not only
make the problems Of the national gov
eminent TOO vast and complicated but
would dim the peoples interest and
active and intelligent participation in
self-sOvernment. Dealing with prob
lens locally stimulates the kind Of citi-
Zenship that is necessary in this Repub-
Tie. The transaction Of business might
lac facilitated. uniformity might ne
gained and the unwise extravagance Of
state action. in some instances. might
be obviaied 10y concentration i'm Wash
ington. but AT the expense ~ the in
terest that comes from direct participa-
ton in important affairs.
Nor Is there sufficient ground for
serious complaint against the activity
of the states ina dealing with present
day problems Ia Justify now the change
favored 10y Attorney General Wicker
crsham. who would require the organic
ing under federal laws OF all corpora
lions engaged in Interstate trade. bar
ring out Of that commerce every cor
poration not thus organized State action
has been irregular. hut the great pros
peraly Of large Industrial companies in
this country. even of those which have
most often come no collision with state
authorities. shows that no serious handi-
cap 10 commerce ha resulted.
Some Of the states lag behind the pub-
lic opinion Of the country on economic
questions. some are in advance Of II and
some few arouse impatience 10y what
seems freakishness and faddism. But
opinion upon tneSa questions is I'm a
condition Of iux. and the experience of
some Of the states has contributed nota-
bly, 10 the Intelligent solution of MANY
- the questions before the country. The
handling Of these problems has been
stimulating 10 American citizenship
something would surely have been lost
lf the public had had TO wait for the
slower and less direct action of federal
authority. And that something. with
All the occasional absurdities and OK
travaGances in lis manifestation. is more
precious 20 good citizenship than the
'rfacilitation of the transaction of bust
ness, especially when there is no evi-
donce that business has seriously suf-
feretl