The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-19
WATCH NE. !;
1874: g.
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.

Hon. John X. Jones. chairman OF the
National Democratic Committee, In .
recent interview In the New York Her
aid. thus stated the Democratic. posi-
ton In respect to the amendment to
the constitution proposed In the
speeches OF President Roosevelt:
Il believe that It would be imprac-
ticable to adopt constitutional
amendment. think that congress has
power enough now to deal with the
trust question. I do not think the
necessary two-thirds vote for the adop-
ton OF o constitutional amendment
could be obtained in congress, because
the Democrats would hardly be willing
to favor such an invasion of state
rights"
He adds that he believes the presi-
dent Is sincere but mistaken In his
position. and that congress has ample
power now to correct the evils growing
out of trust domination. The Demo
cratic theory is that the Sherman law
may be SO amended that II will prevent
the exactions that the. trusts force from
the people by controlling both the
raw material and the manufactured
product. and II this machinery were
accomplished at once that could be
reached only in the distant future
through a constitutional amendment.
The New York Sun. q radical trust
organ, comes TO the discussion of the
presidents proposed policy with some
figures that ought to open the eyes Of
the people as to the grand-stand play
that the Republicans are. making. 1t
shows that the first ten amendments
to the constitution, proposed in 1888.
were not perfected and in operation
for -twenty-six months; the eleventh
amendment required forty months for
perfection after 1t was acted. on by
congress; :. the twelfth required nine
months: the thirteenth ten months:
the fourteenth twenty-five months. and
the fifteenth thirteen months. The
average is twenty months and fifteen
days. Suppose then that such an
amendment should be acted upon by
congress prior to March 4. 1908, and
that only the average time were re-
CURED to. secure its approval by all the
states. It would not go into operation
for nearly two years. and during all
this time the trusts. would he tight.
ening their grip upon the people.
Then would follow the test OF such an
amendment in the supreme court.
backed by all the influence that the
corporations could command, and this
you'd cause another delay Of. perhaps,
two years or more. ...f
The Democratic party wants a law
that will become effective now and
give relief now; the Republicans want
to put OF the matter for another two
years or until after another presiden
tial election. knowing that they can
levy Tribute upon the trusts and swell
their campaign fund from Golfers that
are. made plethoric by exaetions from
| the people The. remedy against this
evil lies in enforcing present laws and
In an amendment to the Sherman Law
That will make It more effective. and
not in a procrastinating policy that
will hold legislation In allegiance till .
constitutional amendment can be en-
acted and then. under such an amend
ment. other laws. be passed, for . con
stitutional amendment would not b.
active OF itself. and after all congress
would have to.enact laws to carry ou
Its purposes.