The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-17

of constitutional questions when fully
settled should control
81 agree absolutely with this sem
tence of Abe Lincoln not the less be-
cause I also believe in what Lincoln
said Immediately afterwards. But we
think this decision erroneous and we
shall do what we can to have it over
ruled
What We Owe to Taft.
Nor do 1 have to go only to the
statement of the past for precedents-
The president of the United States,
Mr. Taft has served his country
honorably and uprightly in many po-
sitions-as judge, as governor or the
Philippines, as secretary or war, ana
now as president-for to him, and the
congress acting with him, we owe
the creation of tariff commission;
the adoption of maximum and mimi
mum tariff law, treaties with foreign
powers, the proper treatment or the
Philippines under the tariff, the In
crease in the efficiency of the inter-
state commerce law, the beginning of
a national legislative program provid-
ing for the exercise of the taxing pow
er in connection with corporations
doing an interstate business, a postal
savings bank bill, the constitution of
commission to report remedy for
over-capitalization in connection with
the issue of stocks and bonds; but few
of his services are more deserving of
record than what he said in this mat
ter of criticism of the judiciary.
Speaking as a United States Cir
cult Judge Is years ago, he said:
THE opportunity freely and pub
IicIy to criticize judicial action is of
vastly more Importance to the body
polite than the immunity of courts
and judges from unjust aspersions and
attack. Nothing tends more to rem
der judges careful in their decisions
nd n do aXaof inSfioa than
the consciousness that every act of
theirs is to be submitted to the intel
ligent scrutiny and candid criticism of
their fellowman. In the case of
judges having a life tenure, indeed.
their very independence makes the
right freely to comment on their de-
cisions of greater importance because
it is the only practicable and available
instrument in the hands of a free peo-
pie to keep such judges alive to the
reasonable demands of those they
serve"
Leaders and Bosses.
Dropping the personal pronoun, the
colonel took up an exposition of what
1--WE who work for the new national
ISM believe. He reiterated his be-
lief in government by party, his rec
ognition of the necessity of corpor-
ations in business, accompanied by
the elevation OF the workingman by
unions; but all these agencies, he was
convinced, must be under control of
the whole people. The one vital and
essential matter in all public life was
honesty. All good citizens must join
in warning on the crook, whether CIV
er or taker of bribes as a traitor to
democracy"
The address closed with the only
words that could be construed as hav-
ing any bearing on the immediate
political situation within the Republi
can party in this state-a dissertation
on popular selfcontrol and party lead
ership, a distinction between the boss
and the leader.
1T is necessary and Desirable
said the colonel, that there should
be leaders, but it is unnecessary and
undesirable that there should be
bosses. The leader leads the people;
the boss drives the people The lead
er get his hold by open appeal to the
reason and conscience of his follow
ers the boss keeps his hold by mani
pulation, by intrigue. by secret and
furtive appeal to many forms of self
interest and sometimes to very base
forms.
Progress there must be. but it
must be wise, sober and moderate if
it were to be permanent. Prosperity
must be preserved, for material we'll
being was a great food, but it was only
q foundation for "a lofty national life,
raised in accordance with the doc
trine that Righteousness exalteth a