New-York tribune., 1907-01-25
, PLAN TO ROPE" THE COUNTRY

l PLAN 10 "hOPE' IHE tOJ JNIR1-
1t is no disrespect to the Constitution 10 sug-
gest that II ought 10 be amended. We have no
such crime rs Iese Constitution. Indeed. we
have come to regard that instrument as a much
more invioIable document IN the letter than the
fathers of it did. for they. conscious OF human
limitations and of the faint light the past sheds
upon the future. provided means for altering the
Constitution as it proved inadequate 10 new
conditions. The provision has been little used
because the written instrument has proved not
a national straitJacket but rather a garment
OF exceeding elasticity. The country's history
has been 4 long Illustration that written con
stitution does not cramp national growth. for
words grow with ideas. and a written constitu-
ton is fuller OF meaning 10 a full statured ma
ton than TO infant unlon Of commemorative
Therefore we read with interest but we de
cline TO be excited over the suggestion OF Gov
ernOr Cummins of Iowa that the Constitution
needs 10 be "mOdernized."
We not disposed TO blink the magnitude
OF the industrial problems OF to-day and so
understand why people I'm n hurry would make
short work OF a stodgy old instrument like the
Constitution. II has bOthersOme way OF block
ing short cuts to reform, but, really, does not
| the Governor OF Iowa. a very earnest. honest.
capable, II somewhat festinate imprOver OF
things as they are exaggerate when he declares
that ''the country TO be governed has escaped
from the government established to manage It
"and Is running Wild? That Is a bright West
ern phrase which suggests In its metaphor the
Western judges translation Of de miRfmis non
curat Ter the law goes with its tail In the air"
The country has got loose and Is running with
its tail In the air. and shall need a brand
new Constitution to rope" It, It is a vivid
and entertaining picture, so much 30 that It
seems almost an impertmence TO ask, Is it truel
bo vI Ia Ia
forceful exposition Of the extreme view that not
only have not laws enough to govern the
country, but also not Constitution enough He
says, for instance:
To meet adequately the revolution which we
I have witnessed in wealth. transportation. com
merce and business, to guard adequately and
protect the people from the ptracies OF the pow
erful. you know and know that the national
government ought to have some powers that are
not bestowed upon II, either in the letter IN
the spirit Of the Constitution
And again he utters this fine epigram:
II we cling too closely TO the forefathers and
fail TO exercise little wisdom OF our own, the
history of forefathers will be the only part
! Of the history OF the country worth preserving.
| Is it fair TO suggest that the Governors rhet-
Oric has escaped and is running Wild? "Rop-
ng' it would be in order.
! Governor Cummins fears that the present
method Of letting the Constitution grow up with
until 1T is a mere shadOwy NAME" and he pro-
pounds this question: (Which shall we do,
break the Constitution better it?" What
do you think" he asks, "the consequences Of
stretching and shattering the Constitution will
"in the end be? I grant you that the Supreme
Court OF the United States will slowly and re-
! "luctantly make the Constitution whatever the
"Imperious needs Of the people require 1t to be.
but when that spirit wins its final victory what
! will your government be?"
! For our own part are not sure that the
| Interpretation of the Constitution In ths light
OF what the Governor calls the peoples i'm
periOus needs" is any more fraught with peril
than the amending of II from time 10 time in
| accord with those "imperiOus needs" The for
mer results IN greater elasticity in the instru-
ment than the latter and in less violent changes.
Besides. we decline to accept the Governors
general proposition that the country is running
! wild" The states have great powers and are
showing q disposition to put a halter on the
fractiOus creature. and the federal government
has not vet pleaded impotence When all else
falls why. can still rope the critter" with
an improved Constitution; no One even in
Iowa should lose sleep over it.