The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-20

Continued from Page one1
will accomplish at the next two regu-
lar sessions.
1.-THE very best and most important
result of the extraordinary session was
that we formed the habit of acting
and pulling together and have come to
take pride in so doing.
Helped by Republicans.
In this connection, it should be
stated that the Democrats in the house
of the Sixty second congress, aided by
some Republicans, passed the reciproc-
ity bill, as they had done in the Sixty
first. President Taft, with all the
power, prestige and patronage of his
mighty office, could in neither con-
gress muster a majority of the Re-
publican representatives. to his aid,
which shows that the gulf separating
the Republican factions is as wide and
deep and impossible as that which
separated Dives and Lazarus
I'VE did not pass the reciprocity bill
to please President Taft, but because
it will help to lower the tariff. But de-
fectiVe as it is, the reciprocity bill is q.
step in the right direction-that is, in
the direction of reducing the high pro-
tective tariff to revenue basis. That's
one reason why Democrats supported
it. Anoher reason is that we believe
it will benefit the American people,
and at the same time, benefit our
Canadian neighbors. True, President
Taft, exercising ruthlessly a power
which King George v could not exer-
else without being driven out of the
three kingdoms, vetoed not only our
farmers free list bill and our tariff
bills, but also the joint resolution ad-
hitting Arizona and New Mexico.
THE presidents veto of the state
hood resolution was made upon doubt
full constitutional authority After an
enabling act is passed and after a ter
ritory, in conformity Herewith, has
adopted a constitution providing a re-
publican form of government, she is
entitled to admission. In his veto, the
president claims that the principal
point at issue was the recall, particu-
larly the recall of judges.
Taft Is Mistaken.
He is entirely mistaken He raised
a far greater and more far-reaching
question and took the wrong side of it,
and that is whether a state has the
right to adopt for itself such constitu-
tion as it desires, subject, of course. to
the constitution of hte United States,
and provided it establishes for itself by
it's constitution, a ! republican form of
government. The American people
who love a square deal, will not per-
nit him to shift the issue from the
great question of a states having the
right to adopt any sort of constitution
which suits it within the limitations
named, to a petty squabble about the
recall.
1.-THE provisions to go into a state
constitution do not depend, under the |
federal constitution, upon the whim, |
prejudice or taste of the man who hap
pens to occupy the White House, or of I
the men who happen to be representa- |
tives or senators in congress, but upon |
the will of the voters of the state /
itself; but the president seems to be |
under the delusion that he |
knows better what the people of Ari-
zona need and desire than they know
themselves, and that his wishes and |
corporated into their constitution,
which is a queer opinion to be enter
tanned by an American president
Referring to President Taft's veto of
the various tariff bills, Mr.. Clark said:
Veto of Tariff Bills.
His action makes it clear as the sun
shining at midday in a cIoudless sky that
the people can hope for no relief from
-arin extoruons at the hands of the Re
publican party, but must look to US for |
'elief from the mOnStrouS load which they
are now carrying.
1.-The language of the presidents veto
raises a very grave question He
seems to think that congress should not
consider or pass any tariff bills except
ng the modus operandi of making tariff
bills provided by the Fathers Of the Re
public. The assumption that congress
shall neither consider nor pass tariff
ill until recommended by the president |
S not only absurd but is revolutionary
Utterly subversive of our theory of legis-
alton, if submitted to- viii be only an
,ther long step in the process of usurpa-
ion which in late years has SO greatly
the powers of the executive at
he expense OF the legislative branch of
government.
For the last thirty odd years, the
enormously increased patronage of the
executive has increased his power to an
.xtent never dreamed of by the founders
# the Republic and which should set men
o seriously thinking to whether so
much power in the hands of one man is
ntirely salutary.
now them That test for human con-
uct was established by highest authority
3y it Democrats are willing to be judged. 4
or it is a fair and just standard. By it. !
We stand or fall. We feel certain that a !
erdict in our favor will be rendered by !
he grand inquest of the American people.
We await that verdict with supreme con-