The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-04-04

saries are higher than they really are
The Democrats consider that the two
criticisms have been successfully met
and charge that they were prompted
solely by the desire of political op-
ponents to put the domirant party
at disadvantage.
States Rights Doctrine.
The Democratic party always has
been a party OF states rights and to-
day, perhaps curiously enough. II is
having trouble to stand consistently
by its ancient opinions and yet to pass
the antitrust bills In the form which
1t desires them to take. The bill
which when 1t becomes a law is ex-
pected to unlock the in'erlocking Gi-
rectorates of modern Industry fur-
nishes a case in which Democracy As
having trouble to avoid the charge
that 1t is for states rights In some
instance and not In Others.
When Woodrow Wilson was COVER
nor of New Jersey the antitrust bills
known as the "seven siiters" were
made into state laws. As has been
told in these dispatches the seven
sisters" bills form in part he basis Of
what are known as the five brother
bills intended to regulate the trusts
| and which are now before congress
for action. 1t is In the application of
| the principles of the seven bills, drawn
to meet the condition largely existing
within one state, to the five bills in
tended to meet a national condition
that the Democrats are having their
worries.
Here is the way that a Republican
has put this matter of the Democratic
difficulty:
The party has used the ancient and
| by 1t revered doctrine Of states rights
In the past to check what It has called
Republican capacities, but now 1t is
trying to find way to dispose of the
bogy and yet keep 1t intact for the
uses Of the future"
Where the Rub Comes.
In the matter of the measure drawn
to do away with interlocking director
ates, the Democrats are confronted by
|
can be brought within the provisions
Of the statutes which 1t is proposed to
pass. The party of course wants the
state bank directorates separated as 1t
desires those of national banks shall
be. and the question is can the sepa-
ration be accomplished without violat-
ing the doctrine of states rights.
The house committee which Is con.
sidering the case has had Louis D..
Brandeis before 1t as a witness and
probably as an adviser. Mr.. Brandeis
is now engaged as special counsel by
the interstate commerce commission
in the railroad advanced rate case.
He told the Democrats Of the commit
tee that there are three ways by which
they can pass the states rights OBJ
stacle by the flank and yet leave it
there intact for further use. Accord
ing to Mr.. Brandeis congress years
ago established a precedent which
can be used this day TO justify the
forbidding of iEteriocking directorates
of state banks. This precedent was
set by the national lawmakers when
they taxed the currency Of state
banks out of existence.
AS a second method Of reaching
the states rights matter through the
federal power. Mr.. Brandeis says that
all banking business of necessity par.
takes of an interstate character, or.
In other words. that 1t enters into in
terstate commerce and that this fact
ought to bring it well within the realm
of the power Of congress to act. AS
third method he says that the mat.
ter can be reached through the right
Of congress to declare what matter
shall be carried in the United States
mails. Presumably this means tina,
the postal privileges can be withheld
from any state bank which declines
to comply with the law forbidding
the interlocking of directorates.
Make Much Of Trivial Subjects.
Members of congress, especially
when they make speeches In the CAPT
toll on what may seem to be trivia
subjects, make every effort to show
that they are determined this country
shall continue to be democracy, "a
place of continued rule by the plair
people with no frills on the ruled o.
the rulers"
1t Is a curious fact that senators anC
representatives frequently show more
alarm lest the democracy of the peo
pie be undermined by some little
thing suggestive of luxury or Of de
cadence Of taste than they do ovel
what appears to be the rapid growth
of class conditions in this country an(
, the rapid concentration Of wealth IL
the hands Of the few. The big things
which threaten democracy are over
/ looked, but the little things are taker
up on high plane and pointed to a!
danger signals Of a coming crash IL
the affairs Of the republic.
, They have just been having a ire
, mendous debate in the senate owe
? the use of automobiles by government
, officials.
One would think from what wa
said by mere or less eminent SENATOR
q of the United States from the floor o
' the senate that an official who rides IL
. an automobile Is tainted with all tn,
, vicious righteousness OF Nero, emper
!. or Of the Romans. On hearing tn,
4 | philippics one would think that ever,