Bisbee daily review., 1911-05-27

thlnKing or the rights Of the states act as their prerogative to serve their own interests without regard to the interests of the country as a whole, but rather as their opportunity to play their part in the general devel- opment and in the readjustment Of those relations which have threat ened to become radically unsatisfac- tory and dangerous both in the fiel1 of industry and in the field of polr ties both in the matter of the uSs of capital and in the field of legk2 lation. we assert them again for the service of the people.
 Almost of a sudden, it would seem. the states have stepped forward and reasserted themselves as full part ners with the federal government in the inspiring program of progressive reform.
 Trying Out Grounds.
 They are the trying-out groun1s of our political system. Each state $ at liberty to develop its own opinion, to try this experiment and the other with its laws and institu- tons in order that no hopeful pro. gram may be neglected or fail of being neglected. It is very notewor- thy that some of the most alert and progressive of our state communi- ties. like those of several of our western states, have set the pace for cised their rights of independent choice in such a way as to blaze a trail for the more conservative states. In many instances they have made mistakes. no doubt, but the mistakes have been instructive and profitable to themselves and to the rest of the country hardly less than their successes have been. At any rate. whatever betide. they do not hold back dull and Rcquiescent and hopeless. They are no longer beat ing about in a nameless routine Of legislation without a large plan or program, and they are diligently set- ting themselves to face the circum. stances of new age. adjusting the conditions of their life to the new forces. checking those things which are sinister and menacing and per est and hopeful and full Of legitimate hitting those things which are hon force.
 Our states therefore are again proving themselves the source of our variety and individuality. They are proving themselves again the fountains of our legal strength. the sources of our legal growth. The fcd- eral government can in the nature of the case go no further than the broad outlines of regulation, the establishment of those conditions Of law which will fit the country as Q whole. which viii prevent the colli- sion, the undesirable rivalry and or rOsition Of it's several parts. II can only sketch in broad outline the ecC. homie and political regulation which ! is necessary for the fife of the coun- | try. The states must fill in the de ! tail must undertake the reculation which adjusts enterprise to the daily fife Of the community, must see to it that there is no essential antasu- nism between the use Of wealth and | the development Of a wholesome l life, that the gates of opportuni'y 'y are kept open, that men are eveTy' | where free to work, that coTnmuur ties are protected against disease particular classes against the crush ing burdens Of certain kinds Of labor | that the streams are utilized as the i sources of power and refreshmenC | that the forests are conserved with i in their borders. that the resources | which ought to be common are not | monopolized and used exclusively tol ! private benefit and profit.
 The 5ia Bsttleeround.
 More and more, therefore, 4 l would seem. will the energetic fqer
 of this country fin1 their profitable ! field Of service in the politics of oul l states. It is becoming evident thst
 they are to be the battle-ground o | political reform. It has never beer | possible so far to maintain anythins
 that could be fairly called a nationa
 political machine. It has only beer
 to speak figuratively when we have
 spoken of any man as a n1sio1a
 boss. The machine which we fear
 which we mean to control, whici
 constitutes the main problem Of pp
 iitical reform for us, is a local ai
 fair. Whe find it in cities and il states. The states are-the units 0
 organization in our politics, and be
 ing the units of organization are al
 so the units of reform, the uIits O
 Durification, of simplication and O
 correction with regard to everythin
 that threatens to go wrong in ou
 national life Moreover they are o
 necessity the chief battle ground O
 economic reform. It is the state which incorporate the great under takings which threaten to bull argeT than the states themselves i the power which they exercise. Tn
 whole problem of the regulation C public service corporations, for e' ample, is a state problem except i , 30 far as the great railway system
 lf the country are concerned, whic
 are for arteries of interstate con nerce. For the daily convenienC 7nd freedom of our people the col
 rrol of trolley lines, of gas compal 'es. of electric light and power con K 7anies, is even more important tha ! he control of great railways. I'll
 way in which these local public SC , vice corporations are managed hs l. a vast deal to do not only with tf
 convenience and comfort of our SC sral communities but with their q
 velopment, with their actual exis nee, with the whole question of q 7 | congestion of population and tf = maintenance of wholesome and saI
 -ary and convenient condition