The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 8, NO. 20
Lincoln, Nebraska, May 29, 1908
Whdle Number 384
THERE IS NO TWILIGHT ZONE-
BETWEEN NATION AND STATE
"I am a strict constructionist, if that means to believe that federal government is one of de
legated powers and that constitutional limitations should be carefully observed. I am jealous
of any encroachment upon the rights of the state, believing that the states are as indestruc
tible as the union is indissoluble. It is, however, entirely consistent with this theory to be
lieve, as I do believe, that it is just as imperative that the general government shall dis
charge the duties delegated to it, as it is that the states shall exercise the powers reserved to
them. There is no twilight zone between the nation and the state, in which exploiting in
terests can take refuge from both, and my observation is that most not all, but most
of the contentions over the line between nation and state are traceable to predatory corpo
rations which are trying to shield themselves from deserved punishment, or endeavoring to
prevent needed restraining legislation."
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MRrHRTAN-AT'THETWHITEHUSE CONFERENCE
At the White House conference Mr. Bryan
epoko as follows:
I acknowledge my obligations to President
Roosevelt for the opportunity which he has
given mo to participate in this meeting. The
conference marks the beginning of a new era,
during which increasing attention will be given
to the far reaching problems involved in the
conservation of the nation's resources. The
epoch-making speech with which the chief execu
tive opened the first session must exert a power
ful influence upon the country at large, as it
has upon those who were fortunate enough to
hear him.
The assembling of the governors of nearly
all the forty-six states is in itelf an historic
event of the first magnitude, for this meeting
and the future meetings which this one ass-res,
will facilitate co-operation between the states,
make easier the doing of those things which
should be done by the national government, and
CONTENTS
MR. BRYAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE
NO PERPETUAL FRANCHISES
PENNSYLVANIA'S OBJECT LESSON
GUARANTEED DEPOSIT PLAN DEMON
STRATED L-JMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS
"THE OLD SHIP IS LEAKING" IN IOWA
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY --
WASHINGTON LETTER
COMMENT ON CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
stimulate the several states to act more speedily
and with better Information upon the things
which should, be done by the states independent
ly. There has been some difference of opinion
as to the relative spheres of the nation and the
state, but such discussions as wo have had hero
will help to define these spheres and to har
monize conflicting opinions.
I am a strict constructionist, if that means
to believe that the federal government is one
of delegated powers and that constitutional lim
itations should be carefully observed. I am
jealous of any encroachment upon the rights of
the state, believing that the states are as in
destructible as the union is Indissoluble. It
is, however, entirely consistent with this theory
to believe, as 1 do believe, that it is just as im
perative that the general government shall dis
charge the duties "delegated to it, as it is that
the states shall exercise the powers reserved to
them. There is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state, in which exploiting inter
ests can take refuge from both, and my obser
vation is that most not all, but most of the
contentions over the line between nation and
state are traceable to predatory corporations
which are trying to shield themselves from de
served punishment, or endeavoring to prevent
needed restraining legislation. The first point
which I desire to make Is that earnest men,
with an unselfish purpose and concerned only
for the public good will be able to agree upon
legislation which will not only preserve for the
future -the inheritance which we have received
from a bountiful Providence, but preserve it in
such a way as to avoid the dangers of centraliza
tion. Nothing that is necessary is Impossible;
and it would be a reflection upon the intelli
gence, as well as upon the patriotism of our peo
ple, to doubt the value of gatherings of this
kind.
The time alloted to each speaker is so
short that instead of attempting to discuss the
various questions presented, I shall content my
self with a few suggestions in lino with the
very able papers that have been presented by
the specialists who have appeared before us. I
begin with the proposition that it should vbe
our purpose, not only to preserve the nation's
resources for future generations by reducing ;
waste to a minimum, but that wo should see '
to It that a few of the people do not monopolize -
that which is in equity the property of all tho
people. The earth belongs to each generation '
and it is as criminal to fetter future genera- '
tions with perpetual franchises, making the
multitude servants to a favored fraction of tho
population, as it would be to unnecessarily im
pair tho common store. I am glad that Sec
retary Garfiold emphasized this point. It is one
that must always be kept in mind by the nation
and by tho several states.
The first national asset is to bo found in
tho life of tho people, and Mr. Mitchell very
properly and with great force pointed out tho
importance of safe-guarding the life, the limbs
and tho health of those who aro engaged in
converting tho nation's natural resources into
material wealth. I would go a step farther and
say that we could well afford to include in tho
appropriations made by congress a sum sufficient
to carry on necessary investigations into the
cause of diseases national in their scope, and
to stimulate the search for remedies which
would add to the life, health and usefulness of
tho wholo population.
I was surprised at tho statistics given in
regard to our coal and our Iron ore. While it
is possible that new coal measures and new
ore beds may bo discovered, we can not afford
to baso our conduct upon speculations as to
what may yet be discovered. We should begin,
an intelligent supervision and conservation of
that which is known to exist, and I respectfully
submit that it is worth while to ask ourselves
whether we can afford to offer a bounty to thoso
who aro engaged in exhausting the supply of
raw materials, which when gone can not bo re
placed. Surely if there Is any importation
which we can properly encourage by a free list,
it is the importation of those raw materials of
which our own supply Is limited. And what I
say in regard to coal and iron ore Is equally ap
plicable to timber. It Is hardly consistent to
discourage tho Importation of lumber, while wo
worry about tho devastation of our forests.
Mr. Hill has rendered the conference a
real servico In presenting the facts and static
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