Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-20

credit be it said that the democrats
of the 62nd congress at the extraorcln-
airy session discharged their duty 10
the utmost and deserve well OF the
country"
Mr.. Clark reviewed some of the par
! ~ accomplishments. and said: WHAT
we did at the extraordinary session Is
only an earnest of what we will &C
| complish al the next two regular ses-
sions
( THE very best and most important
result of the extraordinary session
was that we formed the habit of act
( ing and pulling together and have
/ come 10 take pride in so doing
In this connection il should De
stated that the democrats in the house
of the 62nd congress. aided by some
republicans. passed the reciprocity bill,
as they had done in the 6lst. Presl-
dent Taft. with all the power, prestige
and patronage of his mighty office.
! could in neither congress muster
majority of the republican representa-
tives 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 Lag
arus.
we did not pass the reciprocity bill
10 please President Taft, but because
il will help TO lower the tariff. But.
defective as il is, the reciprocity bill
is a step in the right direction-that
is. in the direction Of reducing the
high protective tariff to revenue ba-
sis That's one reason why democrats
supported it. Another reason is That
we believe 1t will benefit the Ameri-
can people. and at the same time, ben
eff our Canadian neighbors. True,
President Taft. exercising ruthlessly
a power which King George V could
not exercise without being driven out
of the three Kingdoms, vetoed not on
" our farmers free list bill and our
tariff bills. but also the joint resolu-
ton admitting Arizona and New Mex
leo.
The presidents veto of the state
hood resolution was made upon doubt
full constitutional authority. After an
enabling act is passed and after ter
ritory, in conformity Herewith, has
adopted constitution providing re-
publican form of government it is en-
titled to admission. In his veto, the
president claims that the principal
point a issue was the recall, partic-
ularly the recall of judges. He is en-
tirely mistaken. He raised a far great
er and more far-reaching question and
took the wrong side of it. and that is
whether state has the right TO adopt
for itself such constitution as II de-
sires. subject. of course. to the cOnsti-
tuition Of the United States, and pro
vided il establishes for itself by its
constitution. a republican form of gov
eminent The American people, who
love square deal will not permit him
to shift the issue from the great ques-
ton 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.
The provisions 10 go into d state
constitution do not depend, under the
federal constitution. upon the vH1im,
prejudice or. taste of the man who hap
pen to occupy the White house, or of
the men who happen TO be representa- /
yves VI tIS STATE iNSVII, DuI thC pICS
dent seems to be laboring under the
deIusiOn th-t he knows better what
the people of Arizona need and de
sire than they know themselves. and
that his wishes and desires rather
than theirs should be incorporated in.
TO the constitution. which is a queer
opinion to be entertained by the Amer
lean president"
Referring 10 President Taft's veto OF
the various tariff bills, Mr.. Clark said: (
His action makes it clear as the sun
shining at midday in a cloudless sky
that the people can hope for no re
lief from tariff eXtortions at the hands /
of the republican party, but must look
to us for relief from the monstrous /
load which they are now carrying.
The language Of the presidents
veto message raises very grave queS- .
ton. He seems to think that congress .
should not consider or pass any tariff
bills except such as he commends +.
which is reversing the modus operan-
di of making tariff bills provided by
the fathers of the republic The as
that congress shall neither
|ohSlNel hOi pass 'aii III "Hi Until Iec
commended by the president. is not on
~ absurd but is revolutionary, utterly .
subversive of our theory of legisla- .
JiCn. if submitted TO. will be only anoth- .
er long step in the process OF usurpa-
tiOn which in late years has so greatly .
increased the powers of the executive .
at the expense of the legislative /
branch of government !
For the last 50 odd years. the enor- !
mously increased patronage of the
executive has increased his power TO
an extent never dreamed of by the .
founders Of the republic and which /
set men 10 seriously thinking as - .
so much power in the hands .
of one man is entirely salutary.
l. u.r-irtar. thofr- f-I,its "a