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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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--
Vol. 6. No. 52.
Lincoln, Nebraska, January 11, 1907.
Whole Number 312.
CONTENTS
State and Nation
Tiie Iowa Dispute
Ship Subsidy
. ' -v Sagacity
-Initiative and Referendum
" - Reform in Austria
James Bryce
The "Rag Baby" Boom
' . " Washington Letter
Comment on Current Topics
home department
Whether Common or Not
News op tub Week
,
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THE IOWA DISPUTE SETTLED
The readers of The Commoner willbe pleased
to know of the settlement of the dispute in Iowa
over the appointment of a successor to Mr.
Walsh, late member of the democratic national
committee. The state committee at first recom
mended Mr. Marsh, a man whose energy and
activity in the last campaign gave him the sup
port of the state organization. So much opposi
tion developed, however, that he withdrew in the
interest of harmony. The opposition to Mr. Marsh
centered on Hon. Cato Sells, who has for many
years stood in tho front rank of the Iowa de
mocracy. After the withdrawal of Mr. Marsh the state
committee recommended Ex-Congressman Martin
J. Wade (a part favoring Mr. Sells), and it be
came a contest between two leaders, each com
manding a large and loyal support. A few days
ago Mr. Sells found that business interests would
require him to remove to Texas in the near fu
ture, and he at once called on Mr. Wade and dis
cussed with him the policies of the party. Being
satisfied that the latter was sound on all questions
and in sympathy with the aggressive and pro
gressive element of the party Mr. Sells withdrew
and asked his friends to endorse Mr. Wade.
Mr. Bryan is sufficiently acquainted with Mr
Wade to feel confident that he can be relied upon
to stand for a positive and clear cut platform- in
the next campaign. While not in entire sympathy
with the party's platform on the money question
in 1896 he gave cordial support to the ticket in
both 1896 and 1900 and has taken advanced
ground on the trust question, the labor question,
the tariff question and the question of imperialism
and favors an income tax, the election of sen
ators by the people and strict regulation of rail
roads. Mr. Sells' departure is a great loss to Iowa,
.for no one has been more influential in the party's
councils or more effective on the stump. The
.good wishes of the Iowa democrats will follow
Mr. Sells to his new home. He will enter Texas
politics with wide experience to his credit and
twill be the champion there, as in Iowa, of democ
racy pure and undefiled. -
l DEMOCRATIC IDEAS
' The British house of- commons in granting a
constitution to the people of the Transvaal and
the Orange River colonies gives another evidence
that the liberal party is progressing toward dem
ocratic ideas. Mr. Churchill, in presenting the
constitution, said that the free state had been
the model small republic of the world and that
the people had shown themselves .eminently law
abiding and that it is only fair that they should
have the same treatment as the Transvaal.
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THE BURNING SHAME OF THE AGE
"STATE AND NATION"
The Portland Oregonian, discussing the
"State and Nation," observes:
"To the petty oligarchies which ruled the
original thirteen colonies the principle of state's
rights was exceedingly dear because their power
depended upon it. The political structure of the
country then resembled that vague and fragile
union which we see among the parts of a jelly
fish.' To be sure the parts hang together after a
fashion, but their dependence unon one another
is of the slightest. They have the semblance of
a common nervous system, but the rays of the
fish are virtually independent, and if one is cut
off from the rest it survives. Thus it was with
the American colonies for some time after the
constitution was adopted. Mr. W. M. Ivins, in
an able article in the New York Press, points
out that the true nervous system of the country
has developed since that period. By this he
means our railroads, telegraphs, telephones, mail
facilities and the infinitely complex movements
of interstate commerce. Because we now have
a true nervous organization we have ceased na
tionally to resemble the starfish and may bo ac
curately compared to those higher animals whose
parts are so intimately united that none can be
severed from the rest without perishing.
"The growth of the national idea In America,
Mr Ivins points out, has been unceasing since
the union was organized. The force which has
fostered it has been the common economic wel
fare of the people; the force which has continu
ally opposed it has been the interest of special
privilege. Throughout our history, exactly as to,
day special privilege has looked to the doctrine
of state's rights for its protection. We have says
Mr Ivins, 'forty-six sovereignties, to each of
which the seekers of privilege may appeal, and
every one of which sovereignties may permit the
existence of conditions which mak against tho
national welfare. Naturally, the endowed classes ,
and holders of special privilege are deeply con
cerned in preserving those rights of the states
which are to them such a boon."
The Oregonian is In error. The monopolists
who are bleeding the country arc the very ones
who are constantly defying the state and belittl
ing their rights. Of course they object to na- .
tional legislation, and in making their objection
they naturally present arguments In favor of the
state, but these arguments ought not to fool any
body. Whenever the "state attempts to do any
thing these same monopolists rush to the cover
offered by the federal courts. Tho railroads have
done more to build up the power of the federal
courts than any other one influence, and there is
scarcely a state legislature which the railroads
have not defied. If the trust magnates and the
railroad presidents had their way about it, state
lines would be entirely obliterated and corpora
tions would be chartered by the federal govern
ment. That they do not have their way about
it is due to the fact that the people recognize
the necessity for local self-government. It is
true that the states have been brought nearer
together and their relations made more intimate
since the adoption of the federal constitution
but tho need for the state Is stronger today than
it was a century ago. The wide extent of our
country, the increase in our population, the greater
complexity of our business relations and indus
tries, all these increase the importance of the
state. The federal government could not look
after the multiplied Interests of the people. The.
founders of the constitution built more wisely
than they knew when they reserved to the states
the powers not delegated to the federal govern
ment. Congress has alL the power. that it needs.
In the realm of interstate commerce it Is, supreme.. .
The state can charter corporations, and so long
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