The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-08-30

the rights of property, and therefore.
inimical to the very liberties OF the
persons, who might seem to be bene-
fitted by the rigorous enforcement
of the statute, that is no reason to
condemn the supreme court. even
though we admit that heretofore
our tribunals have been too con-
siderate OF property rights. a fault
which they shared in common with
legislatures and the sentiment of the
people OF their times. Nor is IL
anything but right that the supreme
court in deciding the constitutional
ity OF a law, regulating hygienic sur
roundings OF a particular vocation.
should consider the personal rights
OF a man to work under conditions
of his own choosing. having due re-
gard. Of course, for the superior
rights OF society.
We find President Taft drafting
laws in conformity with the pledges
Of the Republican national platform.
That is because President Taft. after
years upon the federal bench, knows
how loosely drawn is the average
law for the protection of the peoples
rights, and how helpless the courts
iare to permanently secure those
rights by decisions upholding the
principles when the specific laws are
wrong in character though righteous
in intent. He intends that the laws
Ienacted under his administration
shall hold water" and he set his
legal department to studying deci-
sions upon the questions involved to
ascertain wherein previous efforts
had infringed upon constitutional
guarantees that these defects might
be avoided
Mr.. ROosevelt's Is not a legal mind
Impatience with impediments to the
attainment of specific ends is at once
his strength and his weakness
strength in popular leadership.
weakness in the attainment Of the
lends he seeks. He reserved millions
OF acres Of the public domain from
settlement, assuming the right be-
cause IL had never been questioned.
President Taft secured a legislative
enactment. according him the power
and legalizing all previous with
drawals. President Taft was sharp
ly criticized at the time, but since he
obtained the right he has withdrawn
more than Roosevelt ever did
Which method must we approve?
1.-The one, which assumes authority,
leaving the way open in case he is
wrong for his work to be undone,
or the one who proceeds cautiously
but making certain everything is Sc
lcured behind him?
The difference between the tenn
lperament and training OF Roosevelt
land Taft was never more clearly de-
fined than in this instance. ROOse-
welt, dashing and impetuous, burns
his bridges behind him. Taft,
resolute, but cautious and exact,
closes his gates behind him.
And while this question Is before
us. the most significant utterance OF
President Taft since his incumbency
was that the chief danger We have to
face Is socialism, that movement,
which would overthrow existing insti-
buttons. He will have possibly four
or five vacancies on the supreme
bench to fill. He has chosen
Governor Hughes, Of New York. as
one, a man denounced by Bryan as
supporting property rights, and, I'M
questionably President Taft will be
guided in filling the other places
with a due regard for the menace he
lsees in the socialistie theories, not
only advocated by the ultra-radical,
of the Debs type, but by some popu
lar leaders of the old parties.
We do not wish to belittle the
, good that those two eminent preach
ers Roosevelt and Bryan have &C
eomplished; but We cannot blint
, ourselves to their limitations.
The supreme court OF the United
/ States is hedged about in so far as /
I is humanity possible to remove bat
5 motives and temptations. II is in
conspicuous position and the contend
ing sides have every reason to seal
Y with suspicion the rulings OF tn
: court in favor of the opposition. Tn
men appointed are selected from tn
leaders of their profession, by tn
: highest Official in the land who mus
desire that his appointees shall re
|. feet credit on his administration
! The judges are appointed for life a
|, a salary sufficient to permit them d
live In comparative luxury. and Their
: IL every incentive for them to seek Z
4 leave an honorable heritage % thel