Evening star., 1936-06-09

Hepuplcan plank says yes. And this,
in itself. Is q radical departure from
the position that government should
not be given increased power to in
terfere with business, but should be
held to the limits now set by the Con-
stitution. The second question Is: If
such regulation Is to be recognized as
a legitimate function of government,
where shall the legislative power be
placed? With Congress? With the
States? Or, under certain defined
conditions, with bothp The proposed
Republican plank answers: With the
States. exclusively.
Revolt Against Capitalization.
Are the Republicans very sure that
they want to take this stand? There
Is at present, q great revolt among
nearly all Republicans and very many
Democrats, against GENERALIZATION of
power as exemplified in the New
Deal. But to dislike the way power
is aggrandi1ed or used does not neces-
sarily imply that such hugely i'm
portant matters as the regulation OF
wages. hours and conditions of work
"a phrase which might cover almost
anything in industrial relationships
are exclusively matters for the States
to regulate.
Is 1t not possible that the Repub-
lican party, by its opposition to the
New Deal program and methods, is
stampeding itself into becoming a
States rights party without giving
sufficient thought to such a momen-
tous change in its traditional policy?
Does the Republican party really be-
lieve that the future of this nation
lies with States rights?
1t might be enlightening by franz
ing constitutional amendment along
the lines proposed to reread the Lin
coln-Douglas debates which preceded
the 1860 election. Then, as now,
there was great human issue in
volved, "a battle for human freedom"
to use the words with which Mr..
White describes the present crisis.
Then, as now. there was Supreme
Court decision involved, one which
limited the Federal Governments
power to control the spread Of human
slavery. Then, as now, there was an
attempt to avoid the issue by invok-
ing States rights. But then it was
not the Republicans who refused to
meet the issue head-on. 1t was the
Democrats, the Democrats of the
North. 1t was Lincoln who startled
his party and the Nation by his his
toric speech at Springfield containing
the words; "A house divided against
itself cannot stand. / do not expect
the house to fall, but do expect it to
cease to be divided. 1t will become
all one thing or all the other"
Labor Conditions Big Question.
And it was Douglas who construed
Lincoln's position to mean that he de-
sired uniformity OF local institutions all
over the country. 1t was Lincoln who
demanded the power of Congress to
act. foreseeing that without that power
bloody revolution might not be
averted.
Can any one fail to believe that the
relationships between labor and capi-
tai. matters Of hours. wages and condi-
tions of work. the relation of industry
to the State and the State to industry
will be the great questions of the next
decade in this country, granted that We
have peace? If he doubts it let him
tear open his eyes and look about him
upon the world! Let him look at Rus
sia and at Germany! Let him look at
T1Nn III
there no power to legislate on such
matters in France. France would be in
the throes of bloody civil war. Per-
haps she may eventually be anyhow.
But without the power of governmental
action that condition would be actual
today.
State or Federal Control.
II one takes longer view, not from
now until next November. but over the
possibilities of the next decade, does
one wish to say that all power to regu-
late by law conditions in industry shall
be in the hands of the States, and of
the States exclusively? Is industry or
ganized by States? Would radical leg
islation in New York not affect New
Jersey2
A thousand questions arise for which
the answers are not easy.
And certainly 10 days time is short
for so momentous decision, embodied
in proposals for a definite constitu-
tional amendment. What the Repub-
lican party can do is to 60 on record
that these matters fall within the func-
ton of government. Where and how
does not ned to be decided this week.
tCopyrieht. 1886 New York Tribune. Inc.
June p All rishts reserved0