The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-09


the constitutional guarantees of the
people are easy, so easy that it
amounts to a temptation.
Absorption by Federal Usurpations.
The exercise of governmental func-
tons may involve dangerous usurpa-
tons which the unobservant citizen is
not likely to perceive. In this way
the whole nature and character of the
government may be entirely changed
without the masses OF the people fully
realizing what is going on. Ever since
the Civil War this tencroachment upon
the rights of the states has been going
on in every branch of the national gov.
eminent. So steaIthy and system
attic has been the process that it has
not aroused the vigorous protest which
II deserved and. although we are al
ready beginning to feel some of the
consequences. it is impossible for the
most thoughtful even to conjecture
the effects yet to follow
Beginning and Growth of Federal Az
gressions.
These usurpations became pro-
nounced during the Civil War, were
multiplied during the Reconstruction
Period, and in the last few years have
increased amazingly. During the Re-
construction Period the south regarded
these usurpations with helpless amaze
ment. The north, flushed with victory
and dazAed with this exercise of pow
er, and not then comprehending the
ultimate danger, applauded it. The
M 4IAr
assertion of state rights as evidence
of a rebellious spirit. The southern
youth ceased to inquire what rights, if
any, were left to the states, and came
to look upon the whole question as one
which it was not to the interest of the
south further to agitate. But now that
the national government has become
the mere plastic instrument of syndi-
Gated wealth through the manipulation
of political parties placed in power by
the corruption funds of large enter
prises, and is using it's power to in
wade the states and by injunctions to
tie the hands of state authorities when
ever a state undertakes to regulate,
in the interest Of the masses. any of
these gigantic enterprises within its
borders, thinking men, both north and
south, are alarmed.
Federal Absorption Favored by Syn
Dictated Wealth.
1t is apparent that the public SER
vice corporations and other stupen-
dous enterprises favor a passing of all
control from the states to the national
government. 1t is equally apparent
that this is not being done in the in
terest of the masses Of the people; on
the contrary 1t is being done by usur-
patton against the wish of the masses
and in violation of their constitutional
guarantees. This control is passing
by absorption to an authority where
the feeble voice of a distant people is
but family heard, but where the per
sistent demands of the ever present
and importunate interests go not un-
needed.
Advantages to Large interests.
If the national government should
assume exclusive control over all cues,
lions touching any Of the enterprises
of aggregated capital, these enter.
prises would have but to look every
four years to the election of a presi.
dent, Of senate and to the election
of members of the house of represen,
tatlves every two years. They would
have to convince but five of the nine
appointed judges of one supreme court
court whose decisions are frequent.
ly not concurred in by more than five
of its own members, and many OF
whose decisions have been criticised
and repudiated as bad law by nearly
all of the state supreme courts. If
on the other hand. the states should
retain any control, these interests
must look to the legislatures of forty.
six different states, and would have
to convince the judges of forty-six diff
ferent supreme courts, many of whom
are elected by the people and who by
their decisions have in many instances
already Migrated into the law Of the
state, principles less favorable TO these
interests than are the settled doctrines
of the Federal courts.
Regulations by States Ante-Dated Ac
ton by Congress.
AS matter Of fact, congress seem
ed to take no interest in the regula
ton of railroads until these roads had
begun to feel the power exerted by
Twenty-Five states and territories
through commissions established by
these states and territories for this
purpose. 1t was then, and not until
then, that congress established. il
1887, the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, which remained practically q
figure-head. whose rulings were de
fed and set at nought, until the states
by direct legislation, began to fiz
freight and passenger rates. Then tht
federal courts. became active in tying
the hands of state authorities by in
functions. Then the question Of
strengthening the Interstate Commerce
Commission began to be agitated ano
this agitation met with no opposition
from the interests affected. Then il
was that the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission were increased
in spite of resolutions adopted by &
convention of the attorHey-generaIs Of
a number of states protesting against
any further delegation to the Inter
state Commerce Commission of author
ity Eightfully belonging to the states
and also in spite Of similar resolu
tons adopted by a convention of state
railroad commissioners
1t was not until the states began tC