Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-09-23
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
By Arthur w. Dunn


Washington, Sept. 21.-[Special. J.
There is one doctrine gone glimmering
which was once a great political issue
State rights was not only a political
issue, but In conjunction with slavery
was big enough for a great ciyil war
State rights continued TO be an issue
long after the war was over aud to an
extent will be heard from In connec-
ton with legislation by the national
government.
But the last vestige of state rights
as a political issue has been wiped off
the slate by four years of Democratic
rule. The Republicans had gone
long way In making it apparent that
the United States was becoming
great, strong, centralized power, but It
has become more SO under the manage
ment of the Democratic party In four
years.
Tendency of the Times.
1t was the tendency of the times.
The country was much different In the
days when the states were supposed
to have a great many reserved rights
and when the constitution was drawn.
Development aud progress have so
changed conditions that the old things
have passed away.
II have several times said that be-
neved | was almost the only state
rights man in the senate" remarked
Senator Gallinger short time before
the adjournment The New Hampshire
senator was cOntendlng that states
ought to manage their own elections
and punish crimes against the ballot
and that there was no real necessity
for the corrupt practices bin which was
being pushed by Senator owen of Ok
lahoma.
Two Advanced Steps.
The last session took two very nd
vanced steps in the direction Of cen
tralization and breaking down state
lines. One was the child labor law
and the other the eight hour law. Both
Of these measures. If they are finally
sustained by the supreme court, will
do more to wipe out state lines than
anything that has been done IN recent
years.
If the corrupt pra tees act shall be
come a law. and II no doubt will be
passed next winter. there will be only
short step TO the control Of elections
by the federal government In fact,
the control of primaries aud the cleo
ton Of senators by direct vote all point
In that direction.
Toward Government Ownership.
In passing bin to construct and op,
crate a railroad in Alaska and In pass
ing another for the purchase and op-
Grafton of ships. together with recon-
mendations of cabinet officers that
telegraph and telephone lines be taken
over by the government the last CON
gress has gone long way IN the dlrec-
ton of government ownership. There
are some people who see government
ownership of railroads rs an ultimate
result of fixing the hours for labor on
trains. They rather expect that this
fact may influence the courts when the
first case is decided.
The Band Wagon Voter.
The Republicans expect to gain on
account of the band wagon voters"
since the Maine election A Democrat
&c senator told me that the 'hnud wag
on voter was the NEST serious ele-
ment In this campaign "Tuere are
thousands OF SUCH he said. whose
only desire is to be with the winners.
The hope of the Republicans is that
lot OF progresSives who have hereto
fore been doubtful will now go back
to the Republican party
Geographical Politics.
In a number OF states geography cuts
great figure, but that does not seem
TO I've the case in Maine Both senator's
elect are from Portland Both Oregon
senator's are from Portland In other
states II is necessary fer senator 10
be from some other section than that
represented by his colleagues In still
others no one seems 70 care whether
they come from one end OF the state
or the other. So long MS the men are
satisfactory.
Relatives Employed.
Probably only Il few votes will be
Ahhht UA NttAN AitA AAAAN NttlAS VI SbNS III
law or other relatives are employed
by men i'm congress and In the federal
departments. That has been going on
a long time. Neither party Is free
from men who look after their rela
tives in these government positions
AT times there has been an cutlery. but
II does not get many votes. "Nepo-
tism" was made feature in politics
years and years ago. Both parties
have used IT.
Winning the Senate.
Among other things which the Re
publicans have set out to do is to win
the senate. Their FIRST start was In
Maine, where they have gained one.
There are other chances-two in Indi-
ana. one each in New York. New Jer-
sey. West Virginia. Ohio. Nebraska.
Maryland. Montana. Missouri, Nevada
and Arizona. Besides this, they must
hold all they now have.