Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-14
A JUST CRITICISM
Of the 1ncOme-Tax Decision by
the Democratic Candidate for
Presidents.

| President.
1t has been charged that Mr.. Bryan
suggested the attack on the Supreme
Court contained in the Chicago plat
form. Mr.. Bryan says that he had
nothing to do with that part of the
platform, although it meets his hearty
approval. The supposition grew out
OF an editorial written by him and
printed on May 81, 1895, in which he
said, speaking of the notification OF
the income-tax law:
No more cruel blow has ever been
struck at the dignity and authority of
the Supreme Court of the United
States than has been struck by this
decision. II is absurd to call it Judi
cial construction of the Constitution.
1t is merely the declaration of individ-
ual opinions by majority of the
court. The Judges who decided the
law unconstitutional simply said in ef-
feet: "Ws do not like an income tax
law, and since we have the power to
do so, we declare it void"
"Justice Shiras has changed his opin-
ion within two months. Is it because
he now understands the Constitution
better than he did before, or does he
lack the moral courage to resist the
influences which the possessors OF
great incomes have brought to bear on
the court? While the members OF our
Supreme Court are above suspicion OF
pecuniary profit in any decision rem
dered. they cannot escape the intlu-
ence which is brought to bear upon
them through their association with
men violently opposed to the income
tax for personal reasons.
"The decision in the income.tax case,
overthrowing the precedents of one
hundred years, following the decision
recently rendered in favor of trusts,
SHOVE how firmly plutocracy is in
tenched behind our judicial system.
Our Judges are not only appointed,
but they are appointed for life. They
are not only appointed for life, but
they are usually selected from the
cities, where they have been surround
ed by those influences which are cre-
ated and sustained by large aggrega-
ton of wealth. 1t is significant that
Justice Harlan, who dissented from
the court on the Antitrust law, is the
most pronounced dissenter from the
lncome-tax decision. This is perfectly
natural. His sympathies are with the
masses, and he is, therefore, not de-
ceived by the tine-spun sophistries OF
Wall street representatives.
So long as our Supreme Court
Judges are appointed for life and rec
commended for appointment by cor
porations, so long will it be impossible
to compel the possessors of large in
comes TO contribute their just share to
meet the expenses of the Government.
1t is possible that an amendment to
the Constitution specifically providing
| for an income tax would be sufficient
to enable Congress to pass a law that
would stand, but if the court is deter
mined to prevent the imposition of a
tax upon wealth some excuse would
be found for suspending the operation
OF any law passed.
IF the people of the United States
are determined to secure Justice in
taxation they must be prepared to go
to the root of the difficulty and adopt
an amendment to the Constitution
providing for the election of all United
States Judges for definite time"
Mr.. Bryan is lawyer, and now says
that he will stand by every line OF that
editorial.