The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1909-02-24
soLoNs OFTEN TWIST coNsTlTu
TON TO SUIT.
Document Made Victim of Circum-
stances, as Senator Vest
Remarked.

You will notice that when states
man collides with the Constitution
Of the United States the Constitu-
ton always gets the worst of it. Or,
as Senator Vest once said. the Consti-
tuition is often the victim of circum
stances.
This epigram was provoked by an
incident which occurred in the SEN
ate some years ago, when Mr.. Vest
was a member of that distinguished
body. He was one of the most vigor
GUS and eloquent defenders of the
Constitution we have ever had in Con
gress, and the remark quoted was in
explanation OF lapse from virtue.
When Thomas W. Palmer was ell
ected to the United States Senate
from Michigan he received the unan-
imous support of the prohibiionists
of that state, because of his attitude
on the temperance question, but
when he gave his first reception to
Washington society champagne was
more plentiful than water. The Mich
igan prohibitionists were greatly sur
prised and grieved. and one of the
leaders of that party came down to
Washington to make an investigation
When he questioned Senator Palmer
Dhe was frankly told that wine had
been served at the reception and that
1t was of the very best quality
eleven full cases and part of
twelfth-and when the good brother
in despair exclaimed, What shall l
tell our people in Michigan" Sen
ator Palmer answered: Tell EN-
that another good man has gone
wrong
And that was the trouble with
Vest, Senator Coke, who was also
stalwart defender of the Constitu--
ton, had offered an amendment to
the agricultural appropriation bill pro
viding for an allowance of $4,000 TIC
be expended In Texas under the dir
ection of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, in suppressing the foot and
mouth disease which had broken out
among the cattle of that state. Sen
ator Vest denounced a diversion of
public money to local purposes as a
gross violation to the spirit and let
ter of the Constitution and an act of
paternalism that was repugnant to
the teachings of the fathers and an
invasion of the sovereign rights OF
the states. 1t required Senator Vest
more than one hour to explain the
reasons why federal money could not
lawfully be used in curing a cattle
disease in Texas, and he was never
more serious or eloquent in his life.
The very frescoes of the Senate
chamber sobbed with sympathetic G.
as he warned his colleagues
In the Senate OF the peril that i'm
pended over the republic because of
such perversion of public funds and
such violation of the sanctity of con
stitutional law.
When Senator Vest resumed his
seat Mr.. Coke did not attempt to
reply, but explained in a practical
manner the situation in his state
with regard to the foot and mouth
disease. and while he was still talk
ing page handed telegram to
Senator Vest
When the gentleman from Texas
had finished Senator Vest, to the as
constituent of everybody, moved to
amend the paragraph by increasing
the amount Of the appropriation to
$4,000 and applying it to the State
OF Missouri as well as the State of
Texas. He explained that he had
a. received telegram from the
Cove of Missouri announcing that
the foot and mouth disease had brok
en- out in that state, and that both
houses of the legislature had unani-
mously passed joint resolution ask
ing for an appropriation from Con-
gress to suppress it.
Senator Spooner arose and in
nocently inquired what had become
Of the constitutional prohibitions
which the senator from Missouri had
SO eloquently pointed out a few
moments before.
retorted Senator Vest, 1.-THE Constitu-
ton Is victim OF circumstances.
Fortunately Senator Knox does not
need the $4,000 that has been cut off
the salary OF the Secretary of State.
or at leas' he will be able to get "a
long with"nt it, because of the indus
try and eoc~ny he practiced while
an attorney at law in the large and
and prosperous city of Pittsburg. The
firm OF Knox & Reed were famous
for the size OF their fees. One day
not long ago somebol, is said to
have askea Senator K'.ox:
Did you always charge your client
as much as you wanted?'
NO. responded the senator grave
ly. 1--WE never charged them more
than they were willing to pay
Senator Knox had the reputation
of making $25O,0oO a year out of