Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-25
KEYNOTE OF KNOX CAMPAIGN
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SENATOR'S
SPEECH TO YALE STUDENTS.
Regarded as Showing That He Is a
Reformer, But With Employment
Of Constitutional Methods.

Senator Knox's political friends in this
city claim that great significance attaches
to the senator's remarks on constitutional
government before the Yale Law School
yesterday. They say that he sounded the
Keynote Of his campaign for the presidency
Return to constitutional methods"
Accepted as an upholder Of reforms advo-
Gated by President Roosevelt with a record
Of successful assault upon threatened
monopoly of transportation facilities while
he was Attorney General Of the United
States, Senator Knox stands for all that
Roosevelt represents, but as claimed by his
friends. with the additional platform-"Re-
turn to constitutional methods. They think
he is in the running.
Tendency to Break Down Barriers.
Senator Knox, with other great constitu-
tional lawyers in both branches of Congress.
has been keenly alive to the tendency of
the executive in recent years to override
the legislative and the proneness toward
government by executive dictum. He has
also realized the disposition of Congress it.
self to lower the bars of it's own powers, as
well as to invade domains which hitherto
have been held by the courts to be exemnt
from congressional trespass
Many great constitutional lawyers of both
parties and in both houses of Congress have
observed and deprecated the inclination to-
ward this alleged disintegration Of old con-
stitutional safeguards. Already the demo-
Gratis have made up their minds to create a
political issue out Of it. to their own ad
forestalled them in behalf of the republican
party, 1t Is claimed by his friends.
Contrast With the President.
Senator knox's friends pointed out TODAY
that his speech has greater significance by
contrast
dent Roosevelt developed in his most recent
speeches. The Presidents suggestion that
perhaps the federal power may be ex-
tended over all transportation facilities by
virtue of the post road clause in the Con-
stitution does not square with anything
that Senator Knox said yesterday The
Presidents idea of federal control of for
tunes. not to produce revenue for the gov
eminent, but to give federal hold on pri-
vate wealth. could not be sustained by
anything in that speech. The Presidents
plan for national law creating liability
OF railroads for accidents to employees
whether due to contributory carelessness
or not, would find no support in that
speech.
Indeed, Senator Knoxs friends cl lined
today, the whole tenor of the speech is in
the direction of conservatism as contrasted
with radicalism. whether advocated by re-
publicans or democrats. They said his
candidacy will appeal to the conservative
elements of both parties. They said that
the platform Return to constitutional
methods" will be hailed with delight by
those who have worried over the tendency
toward the opposite in all affairs of gov
ernment lately.
AS stated in The Star yesterday, the Knox
boom will be pushed along rapidly hence
forth. The speech to Yale yesterday is ex-
pected to attract wide attention and favor
able comment. Senator knoxs candidacy
will be urged close upon the heels of this
awakened public notice, and practical poll
ticians will be appealed to by the senator's
friends.