The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-06
Foss IS. PROGRESSIVE.
DECLARES STATES MUST REGU-
LATE TRADE AND COMMERCE..
Hope Of Country. Says Massachusetts
Governor. LAes i'm Progressive De-
nlocracy's Leadership.

Charleston. Nov 30.--A closer
union Of the States for popular gov
ernment and the elimination CT spe-
cial tariff and other privileges as the
only basis for constructive national
progress was advocated by Gov.
Eugene n. Foss OF Massachusetts, in
an address before the ST. Andrews
society tonight.
lie declared the business interests
os the country must be built upon
constructive business lines for the
benefit OF the people and that the
Republican party had utterly failed
In this regard.
He outlined the progressive move
ment of the Democratic party. which
he said. furnished the necessary solu-
tion OF our national problems and
declared that the country is calling
upon the party to assume the leader
ship. He declared that the Sherman
act had failed to safeguard and de-
vcicp our Industrial prosperity. and
that II had reacted injuriosly upon
an business.
He believed. he said. that each
State must now take up the duties Of
regulating It's trade and commerce,
instead Of leaving this to take Its
chances with unwise federal control
and lItigation: called for more busi-
nessI.ke direction Of public affairs
and declared II to be the duty and
the opportunity OF the progressive
Democracy 10 establish clean cut
business methods In government as
well as industry and commerce.
Gov. Foss said in part:
"The people now realize that the
business interests of the country and
all problems Of public finance and
fiscal policy can not remain the prey
of partisan schemes; but must ne
raised to the highest level on sound
economic principles. Progress Is pos
sible on this plan.S and on no other.
Legislation In regard to our indus-
Try and commerce has hitherto been
far more destructive Of broad. honest
expansion than effective In checking
dishonesty or In Iimittng monopolies.
We now enter upon a new era, In
which progressive legislation on these
lines will take the Place OF tariff
Juggling and its attendant evils.
"rh~ ere of the Payne-AIdrich
tarin ms been also the era OF the
public loss. II has witnessed the die
tntion OF Congressional action and the
disturbance OF executive duty through
forces that work In the dark. against
the public welfare. II has been the
direct representations Of popular will
suppianted by the dictates Of political
machines
"Rofief from present conditions
can be. and will be. accorded by Dem
ocratic administration and a Demo-
cratic congress. These results can be
secured by our party through the
twin policies Of n reasonabls tariff
and settled programme Of recipro-
city.
But there Is. I'm my Judgment, a
still moro important step which re-
mains for us to take.
1T is time for congress. while up
holding the principle that interstate
and forcing trade shall be free from
restraint. To define so far as prac-
ticabie what specific acts shall be
deemed lawful and what unlawful. In
order that the legitimate business Of
the country may know what the con.
ditions are TO which business must
conform.
''rt is time also to reafflrm the prin-
cipie that each State must do for It
self ell that human power can ac-
compiIsh 20 utilize It's constitutional
powers
Failure OF the States to act effect
lively within their common sphere
serves as a Justification for undue ex-
tension Of national authority. We
must now face n situation In which
the fear Of restraint by combinations
Of capital has given way to appre-
hension OF greater restraint by the
national government itself"