The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-11
A STARTLING ADDRESS
Governor Leedy Takes a Fall Out
of the u. s. Supreme Court.
ITS MISSION OF PLUMBER
The Decision in the Maximum Freight
Rate Case Declared an Unclean Vic
tory for the Roads-Legisla-
ture Called to Meet.

Topeka. Kan. March 10.--The popu-
list administration OF the state of KAN
sas gave out startling public address
to-day, one bristling with severe criti-
cism of the recent decision Of the Unit
ed States supreme court in the Nebras-
ka maximum freight rate case. The
address Is particularly significant in
that Governor Leedy has already taken
steps preliminary to the calling of the
state Legislature in special session with
the especial purpose of enacting a max
imum freight rate law. While the ad-
dress Is given out over the signature of
Governor Leedy, it had first been APP
proved by Chief Justice Doster of the
state supreme court and other promi-
nent populists. In giving the address
TO the reporters. Governor Leedy said:
How long do you suppose man can
write treason like this without getting
into Jail? You may put my signature TO
II, and make Ii signed statement so
that If anybody goes to Jail it will be
me-"
The governor begins his address with
the statement that for year the press
dispatches have said that the opinion
to the state. Then he says:
The opinion has been handed down
and the associated press dispatches say
that 1t is a clean victory for the rail-
roads. On the contrary 1t Is an un-
clean victory in every aspect OF the
cause. showing that. no matter how
carefully the robes of justice are fold
ed about the personnel of the supreme
court, the robes can no longer conceal
the eloven hoof of official malfeasance
and usurpation. AS this decision was
due a year ago. and as there was no
known reason for the delay, and as the
decision as rendered confirms the
statements made In the associated
press from time to time. strong color
is given to the suspicion that the press
dispatches emanated from some person
in touch with the court and were for
the purpose of feeling the pulse of the
public and preparing 1t for the decis-
ion. which goes much farther In the
direction of usurping power than any
that has yet been made"
The governor then declares that the
constitution of Nebraska gives the leg
islature power TO establish maximum
charges for transportation and the
court has tried to abrogate it. He chaf-
lenges Justice Harlan's declaration
that corporation is a person under
the 18th amendment to the federal con-
sti1utien, and says:
Il deny II. and so will everybody bur
a corporation lawyer OF d subservicnt
judicial tool of corporation interests.
Governor Leedy then quotes the 14th
and says: How in the
name of God can this apply to corpora
tionse Corporations are not born. they
are created-made by law They can
not be naturaiized, they can take 10
oath of allegiance, only human beings
born elsewhere do that"
After more in the same strain. the
governor still referring to the four
teenth amendment, says:
Who are the persons who shall not
according to the provisions. be deprived
Of life. liberty or property. nor be de-
MED equal legal protection. Everybody
outside the asylum and of the judicial
bench knows them 20 he-and to only
persons They are those
who. beside the capacity to hold prop
erty and enjoy legal protection, also
Rave life and can enjoy liberty and
that means human beings"
Continuing. the governor quotes Hare
on American constitutional law and a
decision by Justice Woods of the United
States circuit court, afterwards a su-
preme court justice, to prove that the
fourteenth amendment does not refer
% corporations. and declares that the
Woods decision had been followed in
@dIiIoFflid, fsHDde Island ana Ufner
states from 1870 to 1882. when Justice
Field and another federal justice of the
peace named Sawyer decided the other
way and since then. whenever a corpor-
alton starts out TO commit highway
pick a mans pocket or loot a
public treasury. ii DISCUSSES itself as a
person. and goes out on its mission of
1lunder. Nobody but slave or a knave
viii yield assent to the hideous distor-
ion OF meaning which Judge Harlan
gives TO the word persons as used in
he fourteenth amendment and upon
. hich he bottoms his famous decision.
Ind which shows to what depths of ini-
tuity the supreme court of the United
States has descended.
II desire" the governor said. TO
luote some of the decisions of the su-
ere ii went into partnership with
dorgan. Vanderbilt. Gould ana COM
ANY. in opposition to the opinion they
lald in the Nebraska case Long deci-
ions by Justice Marshall in 1880 are
.uoted.
In conclusion. Governor Leedy states
hat his maximum rate bin will be pre-
ented 10 the Kansas legislature in such
hape thar 10 decide against 1t the court
must reverse its decision in the Ne
'raska case. and he states that il the
curt still pursues the corrupt and rot
en- practice that IL has heretofore. hy
hanging its decisions TO suit the shift
ng interests of the railroad corpora
ions. the remedy will be with the peo-
lie in their dealings with the courts
r in building railroads OF their own.