Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-09
ing that Congress do what he must have
II no do and what We are

ing that Congress do what he must have
known it would not do, and what We are
forced to consider he did not wish done
THE press told us in what seemed to
be semi-official statements from the White
House that the President was SO intent
upon his policies that if Congress adj
journed without enacting them into law
he would call an extra session congress
did adjourn leaving unpassed most OF his
favored measures and the extra session
LET us see what could have been done
If legislation instead of party advantage
had been desired.
IF a part Of the republicans had joined
the democrats In support of measures
proposed by a republican President the
power with which some federal judges
have hastily thrown their authority into
the scale against labor would have been
regulated by law
a fair trial in ali cases Of Indirect or
constructive contempt of court would
now be provided by law.
Labor would be exempt from the pro-
libition Of the Sherman law against COM
binations.
Wood pulp and print paper would now
be on the free list and the present tax
upon Intelligence to that extent abolished:
mo longer would it be in the power OF
one federal judge sitting in chambers.
hearing evidence ex parte. upon the al
legation that a state law is confiscatory.
to suspend 1t by temporary injunction. A
democratic measure that passed the Sen
ate at the last session OF Congress. pro-
viding that 1t should be necessary for
three judges to act together for the pur-
pose Of issuing such an order, would now
be the law.
"A law requiring the publication before
election Of campaign contributions would
have been enacted.
Federal Usurpation.
president Roosevelt has constantly
clamered for more law and has frequently
disregarded laws already on the statute
books. He has sometimes arrogated to
himself to say what laws should be en-
forced and what should not. He has ex-
ercised the unauthorized privilege of de-
Gliding against whom the laws should be
enforced and who should be immune from
prosecution. He insisted on the punish
ment Of certain railroads and of certain
men for giving and receiving rebates. and
then ordered the discontinuance of the
case against one of his cabinet officers
who had confessed that as an official OF
the railroad he gave rebates to COM
pany In which he was q StockhOlder ana
an official And this man remained In
the cabinet until he left, with the Presf-
dents recommendation, for more lucra-
tive position as the head of q great cor
poration. Indeed, by his defiance Of legal
limitations and the safeguards Of the
Constitution he has done more to incul-
cate contempt of law than all the mobs
that have claimed victims for their vio-
lence in all the states. The President IS
upon an eminence. If he violates the law.
men everywhere know 1t. II he does not
himself respect 1t to the full extent, he
rohs it of the reverence that might be
willingly bestowed by others. In this
same overbearing spirit he has placed
and kept in Office men who were not ap-
pointed by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, He has influenced or
attempted to influence courts and jurtes
in the administration Of public justice,
not only by deciding who should and
who should not be prosecuted. but by
making known his personal feelings or
sympathies between the prosecution and
the accused. He has scolded judges for
their interpretations of the law,
Representative institutions must be
preserved. Our fedral government Of del
egated and limited powers must be main
tanned in all it's constitutional vigor. and
each state must be preserved with all of
its reserve powers and in its integrity and
autonomy forever. Therein is the safety
of the Union and the states-one indis
soluble and the other indestructible.
Let us confidently hope that the time
will never be ripe for the change of the
Constitution by executive action and by
judicial interpretation If such q time
should come then government of law
ment of caprice will be created on the
ruins of one established by written
constitution
Democratic Duty.
I'VE know there is brighter prospect
Ii the love Of country and liberty Is still
strong in the hearts Of the American peo-
Pile: 1t an oath to support the Constitu-
ton is now considered by them as bind
ing: II the people are In earnest In their
protests against the rule OF insolent
wealth. the unauthorized and baleful in-
auence Of corporations and the exactions
of the trusts; If the manliness of the
fathers has been transmitted TO the sons,
the ith of next March will mark the adj
vent of the gladstone light of democracy
and the beginning of the return to con-
stitutiopal government honestly and eco
nonllcai!y administered.
ITO the banner we raise here We invite
to repair all citizens of our common
country who revere the nobler traditions