Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1912-05-18

Roosevelt is no; the point OF present
comment The focus Of present inter
est is President Taft's aversion toward
any questioning Of the sanctity of 81
dfcial decisions
But when the food committce =" ,na
National Consumers League ;.G,",.S%,i
to President Taft an appeal fl thr
recall Of DR.. Wiley'S resignation and
cited certain facts decidedly pertinent
to President Taft's horrincd denuncia
lions Of 'nostruln makers and sub
verters Of the constitution who lay
the ax to the root OF the tree Of liberty
who dare question the tnfalliblity OF
any judicial construction Of any law?
"For the Consumers league makes
clear In taking up the Taft decision IL
favor OF the makers OF imitatio wh.s-
Ky that In this ruling the president re.
called the decisions of President Roos..-
welt. Attorney General Bonaparte, So
llcitor General Bowers and seven fed.
Ccal courts
Ssven Times Sustained.
"Ffnd!ng themselves unable to sway
the Roosevelt administration in spite
Of the efforts In their behalf Of Secre-
tary Wilson, the whisky PRISONERS went
into the courts. Seven times the Roose-
welt ruling was sustained, as follows:
c.nnati
Aug q. 1905. in same court. strong sup
pler2en:ul opinion refusing q rehearing.
'Cnitri States circuit court for south
ern Illinois. later In the same year. COM
piotcly sustained tho Roosevelt ruling.
''Tcb. 4. 1909. United States Circuit Judge
Cochran. ut Richmond. specifically ruled
that the stuff which Roosevelt had order.
ed to bo labeled as imitation whisky was
exactly that
Aug. II. 1908, the court OF appeals for
the District Of Columbia broadly sustain
ed tho Roosevelt rulings.
July J. 1905, the United States district
court for western New York corli, .ciely
sustained the Roosevelt rulings.
Tho supreme court OF the District of
Columbia. by decree in q case. United
States versus four barrels Of HQuid pu:.-
porting to be whisky held that the con-
tents WAS an imitation OF whisky
''Oct. Is. 1905. federal court at Baltimore
broadly sustained the Roosevelt ruling
that imitation whisky was imitation whis-
Ky. and must be SO labeled.
Aiphonso Taft's Opinion.
what the Consumers league failed
to cite. however, was that President
Taft tn that one ruling not only re-
called seven federal court decisions.
but also another which, while it did
not emanate from court, was certain
ly judicial. For it was handed down
by Il great and honorcd jurist who sui
In the cnbinet Of President Grant. This
was the eighth decision recalled:
''Alcoho and whisky are, unquestio.-
ably. different articles In contemplation
Of law. as they are in fact. having differ
ent qualities and different values. Opinion
of Alphonso Taft. attorney general, coa-
STRUNG section 3443 OF internal revenue
laws. see Internal Revenue Record, Aug
II, 1876. volume q
Just what process Of reasoning the
president employs to determine posi-
lively that be has the right to recall
seven court decisions with single Si--
nature, while the recall Of one By the
sober Judgment Of millions OF citizens
In state would destroy our funIn-
mental national liberties. we are M
able TO understand. except by reiucu,-
ber.ng that striking portrait drawn hy
the lGmented Dolliver Of tho umlnble
person In the White House entirely
surrounded by men who know exactly
what they want"