Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-01


depend upon the wisdom and justice
with which the government legislates
upon these things and quoted the one
clause In the constitution about regu-
lating commerce as the sole authority
under which congress acts in attempt
Ing to control the corporations, COM
binations, trusts and monopolies. 1T
Is manifest" he said. that with the
infinite variety Of methods employed
by capital to increase its profits, the
men who administer this clause OF the
constitution must give TO 1t . broad,
generous, liberal Interpretation il the
exigencies OF the time are to be sue
cessfully encountered" irs
The democratic view of the consti-
tuition is not OF recent origin. 1t began
with the first day Of the republic, and
has continued with fair consistency UNI
I'll the present moment. 1t has been
heard Nm every congress, and applied
Whenever an opportunity presented it,
self. The strict construction, which
Is but synonym for technical con-
struction, is the fundamental faith Of
the democratic party. On the other
hand, from the beginning, the natural
predecessors OF the republican party,
and during it's entire existence the re-
publican party itself, has believed that
1t Is impossible for this country to in
sure the welfare Of its people without
giving to the constitution breadth OF
Interpretation in harmony with the
spirit which created a nation rather
than confederation. = 1t is to be
granted that the democratic party adj
mits the power of congress over many
phases Of interstate commerce, be-
cause they are SO plainly within the
express authority OF the constitution
that 1t would be idle to dispute it. and
it is due to the leaders and members
of that party to sag that within the
limits which they have prescribed for
themselves they have been as loyal and
earnest as the republicans in pre-
scribing the necessary control and reg
ulation. We have reached the time,
however. in the development of COM
merce when II remedies for acknowl-
edged evils are to be supplied We must
give the constitution an Interpretation
which the great portion of the demo-
crazy, and especially the great pro-
portion of those who determine its
platforms and lead in its legislation.
repudiate with all the energy they
have
Advertins TO the topic OF regulation
OF railway rates and to the fact that
1t involves restriction Of capitalization
OF common carriers to money actually
invested. and that this must either be
done by concert of action Of the forty
eight states or by congress directly,
Senator Cummins said:
The republican party, as whole.
believes that the restriction OF the
capitalization Of Interstate railway
companies is a regulation of inter
state commerce. There are some re-
publicans who. conceding the power,
are so blind to their duty that they are
not willing to exercise the power. and
they ought to be relieved from the re-
sponsibility Of office with the utmost
expedition; but II would be 4 sad COM
mentary upon the intelligence of our
voters to eubstitutS for such 4 repubft-
can democrat who denies the exist
ence of the power. and whose presence
in office would add strength to an or
ganization which refuses upon con-
stitutiona1 grounds the relief so I'm
peratively required. Personally shall
employ what little influence have to
for public place men who are in sym
pathy with such = reform. but will
never consciously aid in the election Of
La candidate whose party denies the
congress of the United States power
fairly bestowed. which the welfare Of
the country so insistently demands"
So. also. Senator Cummins dis
cussed the amendment of the Sherman
antitrust law, and the necessity for
legislation TO preserve competition in
business. and pointed out that the his
toric position OF the democratic party
was against the exercise by congress Of
a power sufficient to meet this problem.
And again. he referred to the import
ance OF legislation to protect human
ty from the evils of child labor and
the democratic objection that legisla-
ton on this subject 10 not regulating
commerce among the states.
For all these considerations he
said. land others that could be multi
piled at win. We must not commit the
government OF this country to the
party that has never yet been able to
understand the genius OF its institu-
lions or tho power which 1t must ex-
ercise II its citizens are to enjoy the
natural, inalienable rights Of man."
Turning for . moment to the tarin
he said and this was at time he was
not at all seeking votes for himself:
II recognize that there is school
of economic thinkers. writer's and
speakers who conscientiously hold to
the doctrine Of free trade, or to the
nearest practical approach to the alb
stract theory-a tariff for revenue. l
do not disparage their honesty or
question their patriotism; but the ex-
perience of the world and the Judgment
of history are against them. and large
proportion Of the American people has
again and again repudiated the doc
trine, and has established, in 80 far as
repeated expressions of the popular
will can establish anything. the policy
of a tariff for the protection Of the
domestic producer as we'll as for the
raising of revenue. 1t s impossible
and unnecessary for me on this occa-
sion to recite the evidence or repeat
the arguments which have demon
strated the soundness OF the protective
policy. The proof is everywhere album
dant, overwhelming. conclusive. 1t Is
sufficient to say that to every repub-
lican protection Is the one unyarying,
unalterable tenent of his political faith.
The republican party has always stood
for 1t, stands for 1t now. and l hope al
ways will stand for it. The democratic
party, with equal persistency has al
ways stood. now stands. and assume