The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-16
It wasn't lack of wind that defeated the. Wellman polar expedition.
xEw FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

of construction or it's exhibits, | but it has surpassed the hopes of the | most sanguine of it's advocates in the l extent to which the powers of ora tory have been stretched to educate | the country. By the time the gates are closed and the cash balance struck off | every conceivable subject will have been covered to the amazement and | perhaps amusement of those who later undertake the digestion of the thoughts given bold flight in imagina- ton.
 It is only few days ago that the platform was held by former Attor- ney- General Judson Harmon, who elo- quently defended the constitution as we have received it from the fathers. The occasion for his speaking was the celebration of Ohio day. The principal speaker Saturday, Illinois day, was Edmund J. James, president of the University of Illinois. He took for his topic the need of new federal constitution in which he travelled as far as it is possible for the human mind to travel from the conclusions of the distinguished lawyer He finds the constitution poorly fitted to do the work required of it by present day conditions. He declares that it has been so changed by construction and interpretation that it's authors would never recognize it" In his judgment, had we failed to alter it in the way suggested the Union would have gone to pieces long ago. As 1t is it is full of "ambiguities' and is an actual hindrance to the settlement of prob lems which are forcing themselves up- on our attention Tt Is equally plain, President James solemnly tells us, that our federal government cannot grapple with the problems successful- ly without exercising powers which cannot be deduced from any granted in the instrument unless 1t proceeds to use powers granted plainly for one purpose in order to further other and different ones, Le., unless it give new meaning to the old clauses and thus ever pour new wine into old bottles
 It is not possible to foot every Inch of the way with this educational lead- CT towards the goal he finally reaches. but It Is apparent from what we have already said of his address that he is an ardent admirer of the policies of President Roosevelt, It Is Go achieve 1 them by consent of the constitution that he wants 1t made over to suit the Presidents purpose A return to the good old ways of administering the government is idle prating' The past has gone forever and with it have gone old problems and old ways of solving problems. "Ours are the twentieth century problems, President James says, land our faces must be turned toward the twentieth century with all of it's threatening but glorious out- look" The choice he gives is between three methods of procedure In the | first place we may retain the present constitution and try to observe It's provisions. In the second place we may retain the present constitution and trust to luck and tho courts to so construe legislation that all will be well. The third alternative is nation- al constitutional convention which | shall adopt a new instrument and submit it to the people for their apz proval or rejection" Obviously Presi- dent James has only eyes and ears for the third method of catching up with the pressing needs of the twentieth century. That" he says" would en- able us to get an instrument which would be in harmony with our pres ent conditions and future prospects and would tend to produce that sta- ble equilibrium which is as desirable to politics as to physics If we wish to secure a suitable vantage ground for effective work" We may easily imagine that this program will be heard of with pleasure by the ardent admirers of a broader and more en- frightened political program, "the new idea" as it is sometimes called by the elect, but whether it will be learned of with equal delight by those whose greatest faith in the wise solution of the problems created by restless hu- man nature is the brake put upon nasty outbursts by the old constitu- ton is another question.
 We do not know enough of the lIife's work and temperamental quali- ties of President James to judge of his fitness as a student of constitu- tional law. As president of the Uni versity of Illinois it is conceivable that he is possessed of admirable qualities of mind and heart which fit him for an educational post of that character, but it is scarcely conceiv- able that he should be so all round a man es to Justify us in suddenly aban-