The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-04

the only effective way by which to
prevent wrong doing. Men will always
AXE the chances of violating the law
for money If they can have some one
else pay the fine.
Should Provide Forfeiture.
But the rule of individual RESPONSE
bll1ty does not relieve us from the
great necessity of putting into every
corporate charter hereafter granted,
either by state or nation, not only the
right to amend or repeal the same but
also an effective provision for the for
TEXTURE OF the charter of corporation
guilty of violation of law. 1t might
not be necessary to proceed in this
| way often. But it would have a re-
strainlng and SOLDERING effect to a re-
markable degree upon those who
would violate the law. On the other
hand 1t would in no wise disturb those
whose purpose was to abide by the
law. The state endows the corporation
with vast powers. Is there any rea-
son In the world why those powers
should continue to be exercised or
why the state should not withdraw
them If they are being abused or used
for the oppression of citizens of the
state. The penitentiary for the cor
poration is the forfeiture of it's char
ter. We should make the most earnest
effort in passing laws dealing with this
subject to individualize and to dis
tinguish, to select those who are
guilty and protect those who are not
Thousands of corporations carrying on
perfectly legitimate business in hon.
est and upright ways are not only en-
titled to individual protection but they
are entitled to have such laws passed
as will relieve them from the burden
and the embarrassment which they
must suffer by reason Of indiscrimin-
ate attacks upon all corporations and
by reason of the grouping of the
guilty with the innocent. There /
should be no longer any prejudice
against corporations as such but there
should be the strictest and the most |
drastic enforcement Of law against |
those which violate it. This is not only
essential for the public generally but |
1T Is essential to the interests of the |
who want to abide by
the law.
Government Control.
1t is disputed question of consti-
tutional law but l believe that the ma
tional government has the power to
regulate and control the capitalization
OF all corporations engaged in inter-
state commerce. If it has this power
It should exercise it. IL is one Of the
facts OF history that we
nave not heretofore exercised it for
the fictitious capitalization in this
country exceeds the national debt at
he close of the civil war. 1t would
seem that the national government is
he only sovereignty which can deal
With this subject effectively. We can
lot undo the things which have hap
)ened but we can control the matter
or the future. 1t will be great sur
rise to me If the court should hold
hat the national government has not
# interstate trade the fraud and de-
,eption caused by over capitalization.
believe that the power which can
control interstate commerce can
cleanse Interstate commerce from
raud, oppression and injustice 1t
s quite true that the national govern
nent cannot enter into the state and
reside over the organization of the
orporation created by the state, but
believe 1t can say that no corpora
ion shall engage in interstate COM
nerce until it has met the test estab-
lshed by the national governmen t and
ne government can fix the test to in
lude surveillance as to its capital I
ration. :
OF course cannot go into consti-
utional argument here, but If this
over exists we ought to proceed to
xercise 1t without delay. The Re-
ublican party is committed to this |
rinciple of legislation and 1t should
lake good without hesitating it's /
!
Law Enforcement the Great Need.
1t seems impossible to go further j
ito the discussion Of the policy with {
eference to corporations, although {
1ere are other matters worthy of at |
sntion. But in passing from this SUBJ q
sct permit me to say that above all I
lings we should dedicate our party I
the enforcement of our laws. More q
ian legislation do we need the en- 4
'rcement of the laws we have. More $
ian coveting greater power do we c