The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-27
DEMOCRATS MUST
CHANGE POLICY
Of Opposition To Federal Control and
Capitalization of Power at Wash
ington, Says Senator Hollis
of New Hampshire.

Philadelphia, Feb. 27.-The Democratic
party is finding that it must abandon
its traditional opposition to federal con-
troll and Capitalization of power at
Washington, according to United States
Senator Henry +. Hollis of New Hamp-
shire, who discussed "The Relation OF
the Federal Government to Industrial
Combinations" before the American Acad.
envy of Political and Social Science here
last night.
He said in part:
For 100 years and more the Demo-
cratic party has opposed strong federal
control and Capitalization of power at
Washington. 1t has favored a strict
construction of the constitution and has
chung tenaciously to the doctrine of state
rights.
And yet, in the year of our Lord 1914,
we find Democratic president calling
upon Congress to suppress monopoly, to
prohibit interloeking directorates, and to
establish trade commission for the SUI
pervision OF big business. And we see
a Democratic Congress busily engaged
in the work of drafting bills along the
lines suggested by a Democratic success.
ser of Jefferson, jackson, and Cleveland.
invite your attention to discussion
of the question whether this is sound
Democratic policy.
Looking back to the early days of our
government, we note the one dominant
fear which oppressed the dream of the
young republic. 1t was the fear of a re.
turn to monarchical government, the fear
of losing those fresh and tender liberties
which had cost so much to achieve. And
so we find the party of the people stout
ly opposing strong centralized govern
ment, for fear that some modern caesar
might deprive them of their rights.
"The first object of the Democratic
party was then, as it must ever be, to
protect the many from the aggressions
of the powerful. 1t set itself, therefore,
firmly against any policy which might
breed military despot. The cause of
the many was its first and chief con-
Germ. Its policies might vary with
changing conditions, but they must al.
ways look to the welfare and protection
Of the great mass Of the people.
"And so it came about that the first
policy of the Democratic party was one
of opposition to centralized power, and
of strict construction of the federal
constitution. That policy has continued.
with no new declaration of faith, to the
present time.
"But we are now brought face to face
with comprehensive program of fed.
eral dominance in the business of the
nation. Are we to make excusesY Are
we to temporize? Are we to apologize n
Or are we to come out boldly with a
recognition of the new policy which has
replaced the old policy of the Democratic
party.
81 do not hesitate to say that condi-
tions have so changed in our nation that
the Democratic party, in order to fulfil
its mission as the protection of the
masses, must logically inaugurate a new
policy, not shrinking from its plain duty,
but readjusting its secondary positions
so as best to advance its primary OBJ
jeet.
"The conditions which compel this
change of policy are the advent of the
very rich man, the development of pri. |
waite monopoly, and the far-reaching eff |
fects of modern industrial combination.
1T has been found that state and To- |
cal governments are powerless to pro- |
tect the people from industrial evils, for
corporations and private persons are /
more powerful than any state. Shall it |
be the policy of the Democratic party
to rise to the emergency, and effectually
to regulate the nations business, or shall |
it shrink from the task because it finds
no party precedent, or because those who
have their hands on the peoples threats
cry Socialism,
I'm the present emergency there is no
call for the Democratic party to emf
brace the doctrines of Hamilton. II NAV
still believe that strong federal control
is an evil to be avoided whenever pos
sible. But it must recognize the need
for efficient control of private monopoly;
and insofar as present needs compel a
departure from old policies, it must keep
step with the progress of events. Byl
50 doing the party win not be reereant
10 its trust; it will not abandon its first
md primary object. On the contrary it
will prove its fitness to protect the
masses from the aggressions of the rich
ind powerful enough to cope with the
strongest combinations of modern bust
less.s