The Washington herald., 1912-10-06

not be overlooked. Under the BIRTHS
system, which. of course, Is wholly ur
suited to US with our traditions, on
character, and our temper, the crown
which stands for our executive authority
has lost the power of veto through afro
ply, through nonuse. while the Progress
sive party programme seeks in Its ever.
essential detail to strengthen the execu
tive authority.
TT seeks TO do this by taking from
Congress the executive power to legis
late and from the courts the exclusive
authority to interpret the laws ana ap
ply the established constitutional restric
tons and limitations. For these 1t woul'
substitute commissions to be appointed
| by the President, subject wholly to hi
| WILL that would set at naught judicial ad
| justment and legislative enactments-
| This would lead to the concentra
/ ton of the power and functions of gov
eminent in the Executive and make thu
President q more absolute monarch
| than the Csar of Russia. In the end hi
alone would be the center of authority
the giver of all good gifts. and the ad
/ ministrator Of rewards and punishments
why He Is Conservative.
I'm the face of so threatening a stu
alton as this am a conservative, and
feel confident that in the same sense the
overwhelming majority of the American
people is conservative. In opposing stern.
ly the triumph Of the Progressive party's
programme We are striving resolutely to
preserve our institutions from the en-.
chanting glamour of a dream on the one
hand and the insidious encroachments OF
one-man power on the other.
THE Republican party stands to-day
for the great progressive principles for
which IT has been battling unafraid since
its birth-the fullest measure Of liberty
under the Constitution, the greatest free
dom of individual action consistent with
public order, the unhampered activity of
the citizen in his business transactions
within the bounds prescribed by law, and
statue that has stood the test of judicial
scrutiny
This is the progressivism of true Re-
publicanism, and to that standard the
Republican party is rallying. now that
the revolutionary character of the Pro-
gressive party's programme has been
made clear by the speeches Of the pop
ular orators of that party. The drift
that set in toward the third party fol-
lowing its sensational convention in Chi
cago has been checked. 1t has not only
been checked, but 1t is rapidly receding
and coming back from where Il start
ed-the Republican party.
What is true of the Republicans that
a few weeks ago were headed toward the
third party is also true OF the Democrats
who fell into the drift. Every day
brings us assurances from Democrats in
all parts of the country who have been
disillusioned that they are going to cast
their lot with the Republican party in
this election"
And what do you think Of the avow-
ed antitrust policies OF both the other
parties, Mr.. PRESIDENT
As to Antitrust Policies.
Il don't yet know Just what the Dem
ocratic antitrust policy is. Neither
Gov. Wilson nor any other OF the au-
thorized Democratic campaigners thus
far has made his party programme on
that question clear to me or anybody
else with whom I have talked. In the
vague light they have thrown on 1t ]
am unable to tell what they are prom
ising on that score.
But the Progressive party's antitrust
plank is probably the least defensible
plank in the entire platform.
In effect II is the old Roosevelt
scheme to divide trusts into two classes
good trusts and bad trusts-and have
paternal government at Washington
spank the bad trusts and reward the
good ones!
"Our programme on this question is
clear-cut and definite. I would retain the
present antitrust law, but would favor
the voluntary Federal incorporation OF
all corporations doing an interstate BUSH
ness under a law to be enacted by the
Congress which might denounce certain
injurious methods of business and COM
petition as misdemeanors
From all Of this, with the decisions
Of the courts. 1t would be easy for cor
porations to know the correct rule of ac-
ton for them. They would know exact |
~ what were their rights and what were |
their obligations. board could be Gre |
ated to see to it that they complied with |
the rules. In any case where this board s |
action might be of doubtful legality or |
an appeal to the courts |
FOR review Of its action would lie.
Club of Tremendous Power.
yramme would empower a board or COM
mission appointed by the Executive to
rave exclusive supervision over and reg
Ilation of everything that body SO ap-
pointed might classify as an injurious
russ.
This would place in the hands Of the
Executive and his commission a discre-
ionary power dangerous because so
,apable of tyrannous use. + favor a
inc of distinction between good corpora
ions and bad corporations OF a uniform
character established by law and stat
lite, and capable of definition, limitation,
md enforcement by the courts
The Progressive idea Is to leave this l
inc of distinction to the discretion of /
n executive tribunal to determine each Il
ase according to circumstances and the Il
General views Of the commission al to
'ublic interest and benefit.
"Such = commission, acting under an
ambitious Executive, would grow to be
IN Instrument Of tyranny, and danger
us in the extreme"
strong for Income Tax.
do you. Mr.. President, regard the
which both the Democratic
nd the Progressive parties are sesxing
D amend in several particulars perfect"
in a broad sense I do not; for do I
OF myself favor two important amend
cents, and am I not doing all I can to
ring them about? l refer to the income
Tx and the popular election of Senators.
he Republican party in Congress- and
he majority Of the States in which IL is
ominant Is committed to these two
|.
Il have heartedly co-operated In the !
ork Of SO presenting them to the people ,
lat both questions will be SO thorough n
, understood that the electorate will au-
iorize the adoption of the income tax |.
and the one for the popular !
ection of Senators.
IF 1 am President when the income ..
x amendment is adopted-and unless
lere is unforeseen delay that will carry :
Z adOptfon over 1917 I don't eaa MIR, r |