The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1911-10-28

ceive the tribute OF our admiration
and gratitude. These men were
among the notable pioneers of pres
ent day economic and political re-
form, and II is very delightful, stand
ing here, to pay my tribute OF re-
spect and admiration to them
Texas also undertook. at an I'M
usually early date, the regulation of
the issue of stocks and bonds by
corporations, particularly by rail-
'ad companies, and l understand
that the regulations she initiated
have resulted very satisfactorily III
deed. The people of Texas know
whom to follow and what to do un-
der their leadership. They have
shown themselves enlightened, pro
gressive, confident, capable OF
achievement 1t is such things as
these that stimulate the imagination
in facing great company OF her
representative citizens like that gath
cred here today.
There was time, but three 81
four years ago, when men who stood
high in the counsels of the Nation,
openly asked the question: What
was to become of the powers of the
states?" pressing the inquiry MOI
because they entertained any jeal-
ousy of those powers, but because
apparently, the states were not in
clined to exercise them. were lethar-
gic and Indifferent in the presence
of conditions which needed thought
full and effective remedy. But such
talk has ceased. the states have as
serted themselves, each state is at.
tempting systematic treatment of
its own problems, studying them
from the point of view of its owl
people. and adapting the remedy to
the circumstances. Texas led the
way in this renaissance of the func-
tons of the states, but all the coun-
try is now quick with the new life
and America is beginning once
again to realize the happy eircum-
stance that our diversified conditions
can be met without any futile at
tempt to apply a too uniform rem
edy Our states are testing grounds
and they have full power and author
ity to make trial of the remedies
which commend themselves to them.
In many things it is desirable, nay
imperative. that we should coop
crate and bring about as nearly as
possible uniform regulation. But in
others we shall be strong only when
we adapt ourselves most perfectly
to the variety of our people, of our
soil, of our products, OF our social
and economic development.
The states are the political laoo--
ratories of a free people. Their
self-adjustment is the most vital pro-
cess of our life. The danger of a
too great concentration of authori-t
ty In the government at Washington
is not so much a constitutional dan
ger as a practical danger. 1t is the
danger of an artificial uniformity, Of
an arbitrary unity, of system with
out elasticity, of regulation without
local accommodation.
One of the reasons why our states
tagged in the exercise OF their pow
ers: one of the reasons why the
question arose whether they We're
going to exercise them or let them
lapse by neglect, was that they did
not have such political arrange
ments as made it easy FOR
public opinion to tell upon leglsla-
ton and effect the objects when
thoughtful and public spirited men
had long had in mind. There has
been going on all over the United
States a process of somewhat pro-
found political change. The change