Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-06-07

COnfusion-Thc Foraker Presidential Boom
Has Already Collapsed-McLaurln and Till.
man Have Posed Long Enoush-Dutes
on Philippine Imports to Continue by Order
of Secretary Gass--Gen. Fred Grant Makes a
Sampsonian Demand for the Honors Won BY
Funston.
(From our regular correspondent)
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1901.
The Constitution has stood some
hard knocks in the past from the par
tisan decisions of the United States
Supreme Court, aud it will stand the
extraordinary and contradictory de-
cisions handed down this week in the
insular cases. Although for the time
these decisions give the administra-
ton a free hand in carrying out its
imperialistic colonial policy, they will
doubtless make enough Democratic
votes among the serious-minded, who
believe Congress to be the creature of
the Constitution, instead of the Con-
stitu,ion being the football Of Con-
gress, as the principal one of these de-
cisions practically holds it to be, to
elect the next President. There is
not the slightest doubt that a major
ity-a vast majority-of the people
of this country regard the Constitu-
ton as the best protection of their lib
nrtipl onI 70 Int,ht that
sent its being juggled with in order to
make it meet the exigencies OF the
Mckinley administration is to doubt
their intelligence. Democrats, of
course, regret that this decision was
made, but they find consolation in the
belief that it will result in fastening
the return to power of the Democratic
party, which has ever been the defend
er of the Constitution and believer in
its strict construction.
Senator Bailey, of Texas, who has
an established reputation as an able
exponent of the Constitution, said Of
the insular decision of the United
States Supreme Court: "The decis-
ion is certainly bad enough, but it is
not so bad as the administration pa
pers are claiming. The friends OF the
administration are cOngratulating
themselves much too early if they
think the decision relieves them from
the embarrassment of constitutional
restriction in dealing with our new
possessions. They will find the ques-
ton OF taxation one OF the least
among the perplexities OF colonial
policy; and they can only carry out
their plans for governing these islands
by setting aside other and greater con-
stitutional provisions. The court is
apt to find that the next case will not
furnish it with subterfuge like the
words The United States to which it
can limit constitutional guarantees.
II will be compelled sooner or later to
meet the proposition as to whether
Congress can enact laws for these in.
sular possessions which are contrary
to the express inhibitions of the Con.
stitution. The decision, standing by
itself. will become the source of end.
less mischief and confusion. But its
harm will not end there. Following
so closely upon the decision in the in
come tax case, it will inevitably con-
vince the people that the Supreme
Court Of the United States holds the
laws OF Congress constitutional or un.
constitutional, according as it deems
them wise or unwise. With the wis
dom of the law the court properly has
no concern, and its only inquiry ought
to be whether the law is or is not con-
stitutional. For many years this rule
was followed by the court, and then
its decisions were respected by all
men; but l regret to say that at this
time the conviction is almost univer-
sal in the public mind that the most
important decisions are political rather
than judicial"
Presidential booms have been be-
fore now constructed OF flimsy ma
terial, but nothing was ever flimsier
than the material out of which few
Republicans are trying to build a
boom for Senator Foraker-the decis.
ion OF the Supreme Court that the
foraker Porto Rico tariff act is consti-
.ut!onal. There is one unsurmounta.
BILE obstacle to Foraker's getting the
Republican nomination for President
Hanna. Hanna wants that nomi.
nation himself, but even il he didn't
he would not allow Foraker to get it,
Although the exigencies of Ohio poll.
tics have made it necessary that the
two men should be only on friendly
terms, 1t Is an open secret that Hanna
hates Foraker, and the Republican
machine will have to undergo radical
changes before any man can get the
party nomination for President against
Hanna's wishes. He may not be able
to get it himself i Democrats are
afraid to hope that they will be ia.
vored with 80 much good luck-bui
he will be able to defeat any other
candidate and probably to name the
man. So the Foraker boom may be
recorded as having died a-borning.
Much interest il felt in Washington
in the Tillman-Mcl.aurin fight in
South Carolina, which will demon
strate how much truth there is in the
claim that Republicanism under the
disguise of McLaurinism is making
Roadway in that State. The point
has been raised, and many believe i,
valid, that the paper signed by Sena.
tors Tillman and McLaurin and sent
to the Governor of South Carolina il
nothing more than q notice OF theil
intention to resign Sept. Is, and tina,
either or both of them can if they see
fit, for any reason, or for no reason
withdraw therefrom at any time, be-
fore that date and remain in the Sen
ate. In other words, that the resig
nations, so.called, have strings at
tached to them which can be pulled
without the hindrance of anybody il
either or both Senators desire to do so
Although the general impression il
that free trade with the Philippines
until Congress legislatcs otherwise
naturally follows the Porto Rico tariff
decision Of the Supreme Court, Score
tary Gage has ordered that duties
under the Dingley tariff law shall con
4