Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-05
CHILD LABOR" law Blow.
At AUTONOMY OF States:
Most Dangerous Assault on 2gr1ty.
OF Local self-Governmen&. Ea3I,e.
Country's History. |
OPINION OF SENATOR HARy
Georgia Man Takes Congress- to Task
Before American Bar Association.
Lawmakers Also Played for Their
Pro-German Spirit. 80.
INV A,,oe,.t,a p-.,.,

tBy Associated Pressl :. .ss,N
SARATOGA SPRINGS. N. z. Septem.
Der 4.-The opinion that tho most dan
gerous assault upon the autonomy. Of
the States, upon the integrity of local
self-government, that tho entire his
tory Of our country records, was made
by the Congress of the United States
when 1t passed tho recent so-called
'child-labor' law" was expressed hero
to-day by Senator Thomas w. Hard.n
wick, OF Georgia, before tho meeting OF
the American Bar Association Id an
address on The Regulation of Com
merce Between tho States Under the
Commerce Clause Of tho Constitution
OF tho United States"
III 1t be within tho power Of Con
gress to pass tho recent child labor
legislation, why Is It not within its
power to legislate so az to deny tho
privileges OF interstate commerce. To
legitimate and wholesome commodities
because they were produced By the
iaoor OF women the Senator eatd.
OR because produced by union labor,
Or because produced by labor that was
employed more than eight houru. or
moro than six hours per day? VINO
can say where 1t will stop. or how. IL
will end?
CONGRESS MAY SPEEDILY
UsURP ALL STATES nIGHra
III Congress, on tho pretext of rsSu.
latins commerce between tho Stataa
may lawfully regulate tho Processes Of
manufacture and production. may m
and control the hours and conditions
OF labor and may say who shall be
permitted to work In field and In fac-
tory. In mine and In workshop, in every
state OF tho Union, then It is easy, TO
see how speedily and how completely
Congress will usurp tho rights of the
States. deprive them OF their reserved
powers, strip them OF every vestixe of
their sovereign police power and re-.
duce them to state of impotent ara
Insignificant vassalage.
Unless It be speedily checked, ~
may not hope to sec tho glorious gov.
eminent founded By our fathers sur.
vive. for the chief glory AZ we'll q
the distinctive feature Of that rovern.
ment was it's nicely adjusted. evenly
balanced and finely tempered duality,
which provided combined strength and
consolidated power FOR tho transaction
OF foreign affairs and matters of Seu-
eral concern. with local independence
and local self-government In all mat.
ters that were entirely domestic ana
purely local"
Resolutions pledsing tho loyalty
OF the American Bar Association
to the government were presented at
the opening session OF tho annual meet
Ing Of the organization this morning
by Elihu Root on behalf OF tho execu.,
tive committee. with tho unanimous
recommendation OF tho committee that
they be adopted and they were adopted
tonight. i''An.
FUTURE FREEDOM DEFENDS ga
ON DEFEAT OF GERMANY
Tho resolutions assert that tho fu.
ture freedom and security of tho
country depend upon the defeat of the
German military power; approve tho
entrance OF the United States into. the
war before 1t was too late to md sue
cess through tho united action of tho
democratic powers: urge tho most vigo-
rous possible prosecution of the war.
and conclude as follows: ~.
We stand for the dispatch Of the
American army. however raised. to tho
battle front in Europe. where tho armed
enemies of our country can be found
and fought, and where our own terri.
tory can best DO defended. We con.
denim all attempts in Congress and. out
OF 1t to hinder and embarrass tho eov.1
eminent IT tho United States in carry
ms on the war with vigor and effective.
ness. Uncep whatever cover OF pacifism
or thcmnicsIity such attempts arc made
40 deem .ham to be in the spirit pro-
German. ana in effect. giving aid and
comfort to the eaemy. We declare the
foregoing TO be Overwhelmingly tho
sentiment OF tho American Bar"
The passion for making lawns
which. he said. -characterizes present,
day political institutions" was criti-
cised by United States Senator suther-
land. of Utah. president of the associa.
ton. In his annual address. ~.
Declaring that legislators have do
veloped mania for regulating poo
ple." he condemned interference by the
government with Individual rights
He criticized certain provisions OF tho
Federal law creating the Trade Commits
sion and the ship purchase act. He
also deplored the tendency to increase
the number and power Of administers.
tive boards and commissions, az well
as proposals for the Koyernrnent
ownership of telephone. telegraph and
railroad lines.
Boris r. Bakhmeteff, the Russian am.
bassador, spoke before the judicial SEQ.
ton this afternoon. sp
10 ~