The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-12
ABOLISH FEDERAL COURTS.
G. c. Clemens Wants it Made an Issue
in 1900

G. c. Clemens wants the Populists of
Kansas to issue a call for a national
conference Populists, Socialists and
Democrats to make abolition of the
federal courts the main issue of the
next campaign in the state and nation.
Mr.. Clemens this afternoon transmitted
the following letter to Mr.. Breidenthal,
by him to be presented to the POpul1St
state committee, which meets to elect
a successor to the present chairman to-
night:
Topeka, Kan, Aug. II, 1897.
Hon.. John w. Breidenthal, Chairman
Peoples Party State Central Com
mittee:
Dear Si-As a member of the Peo-
pies party, interested in the success of
the cause which it stands for, take
the liberty of making some suggestions,
with the request that you shall submit
them to the state committee, which
meets today. 1 ask no public action,
but only that some steps shall be taken
towards securing conference of all
classes of reformers with a view to
united action in 1900 for the issue I
propose. Because the people must be
educated on this issue is why L propose
action at this early date. The issue of
1900 will be one agitated before that
time.
1t must be apparent that under the
federal constitution as it now stands,
and as it has been and as it certainly
will be construed, none of the leading
reforms now agitated can be accOmp-
lished through congressional action. 1t
should be equally apparent that the
constitution cannot be amended so as to
permit any of those reforms by federal
legisla ton. To even submit an amend
ment requires a two-thirds vote of each
house of congress. If it were possible
to secure such a vote the proposed
amendment would have to be so word
ed as to be meaningless, but it would
not be possible to get such a vote for
the submission of any amendment
which even seems to menace the su-
premacy of wealth. Suppose, however
the amendment to be submitted 1t
must then be ratified by a ma jority of
each house of the legislatures of forty
four states. A tie in either house in
twelve states would suffice to defeat the
pick out more than twelve states
which would be certain to oppose any
amendment beneficial to the common
people? Except in particulars which
excited little opposition, the constitu-
ton has been amended but twice in its
history. The first ten amendments
were added to keep down revolt until
the government could get its feet.
years of civil war and were, even then,
forced upon the southern states. Pat
rick Henry was right when, in his great
speech opposing the adoption of the
constitution, he exclaimed: 1.-The way
to amendment is Shutp
What, then, are reformers to do but
seek to carry out their reforms through
the state legislature? And, are not the
state governments the natural instru-
ments of reforms? Are they not close
to the people and readily responsive to
the popular will? AS a rule, are not
their constitutions readily amendable
by simple majority vote of the peo-
pie? Is not even the state judiciary
amenab BILE to popular control because
the people are the appointing power?
At any rat there can be no peacea BILE
reforms carried out otherwise than
through the state government.
But alas. we have no state govern
ment. If they are not dead. they have
at least been put into very profound
sleep by the federal courts; and they
can awaken no more while the federal
courts exist. Is not the true issue for
1900, therefore, and the issue upon which
all reformers should unite, plainly indi-
Gated to every thinking man who wishes
the people we'll? Do not events occur
ring every day point clearly to that is
sue? Does not some new aggression
every day make it palmer that, if the
people would rule or even remain par
TALLY free, the usurping federal courts
must be put beneath the constitution? :?
Federal judges have usurped all the
powers of the federal government. Not
long ago one of them enjoined men from
quitting the service of an employer
without his consent. The other day
IN Civil,