Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-01-17
HE SEES DANGER.
Gen. Dickinson Views With Alarm
Recent Utterances Of President
Roosevelt and Sec. Root.
DEFENDS STATES RIGHTS
Sentiments Quoted He Considered
Revolutionary and Dangerous to
National LIfe-should Study
Constitution. ~


Constitution. >"'
-
Albany, N. Y, Jan. 16.-Danger OF
departing from the beaten paths mark
ed out by the constitution was ex-
pressed by former Assistant United
States Attorney General ]. NJ. Dick
inson Of Chicago in an address be-
fore the New York Bar association
Tuesday night.
His remarks were predicated on re-
cent utterances Of President Roose-
welt and Secretary Of State Root on
the necessity Of increasing the pow
er of the federal government.
1.-THE remedy proposed" said Mr..
Dickinson, is shrinkage Of the pow
ers Of the states and an increase Of
the power of the federal government
by judicial Interpretation and con-
struction Of the constitution.
The speaker lamented the flippancy
with which the constitution is regard
ed, saying there should be revlvar
all over the land Of knowledge of the
construction and theory Of govern
ment.
In quoting President Roosevelt and
Secretary Root, Mr.. Dickinson said
they had with directness and cour-
age challenged all corners to high
debate.
II am not presumptuous enough to
enter the lists as champion, but
only make bold to perform the hunl-
BILE office Of herald, to proclaim up
on what issues the gauge has been
thrown down." said the speaker.
'Let Us understand the full mean
ing Of what they hvac said," he con-
tinued. Both are SO direct and clear
that no Interpretation Of construction
is required. A man who runs may
read. The president said that, in re-
spect Of some evils. 1t is evident
that no efficient state action is pos
sible.' Therefore, there is a neeG
through judicial Interpretation ana
construction of law to increase the
power Of the federal government
"Mr. Root says that as long as the
states fail in the discharge of their
functions to measure up to the stand
ard that public opinion demands, such
derellctlon will increase the DISPOSE.
ton of the people to appeal to the gen.
eral government to exercise control
over matters that have been consiC
cred the exclusive right of the states.
1.-THE. only difference between the
two is that the president says we need
an increase Of power in the national
government through judicial interpre-
tation and construction, while Mr..
Root says that If the states do not
reform, sooner or later such increase
Of power will be acquired by construc-
tons of that constitution,
Power recognized as belonging to
each of the states is, on account Of
the dereliction of some, to be trans
ferred from all the states which exer-
else such powers justly and effective
ly, This transfer is not to be made
by amendment as provided for in ar
ticle Of the constitution, but by IL
depreciation and construction Of the
constitution. This doctrine is revo-
Iutionary and dangerous to our nation
al life"
Mr.. Dickinson regretted the envy
and discomfort aroused by wealth.
The constitution is scanned, he said,
for a way in which to curb wealth.
He insisted, however, that an income
tax would violate the integrity Of the
constitution, declaring the taxing pow
er OF congress is limited to raising
revenue for paying the debts and pro-
viding for the common defense and
general welforS Of the United States.
81 rejoice" he concluded, that the
question of states rights il no longer
sectional. 1t is a noteworthy fact that
when. the income tax was held TO De
unconstitutional on the ground that
It invaded the right Of the states
two Of the dissenting Justices who
upheld the power Of the national gov
eminent were former confederate sol
diers. Those rights retdaihIng with
the several states after the adoption
- - asl1a q
Of the post bellurn amendments, should
be and doubtless are. as dear to ali
a. they are to any single state. Quesl
ton will ariss, ont Of coalitions, such
fos instance, as thsss Involved in
the schooling Of Japanese IN San
Francisco, which eject peculiarly q
state or group Of states, but the
c6nstitutionar principle involved is
just as likely to Be invoked IN be-
half OF other states on conditions
totally dissinilar."