Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-20
Senator Oliver ADJ
dressesNew England
Women S Press
Assn at Boston.
Impulse and ReCkIeSsness vs..
Judgment and Justice.

Tsoston Feb le-"In my opinion, one oil
tha great nenaces of our time lies in the
constant and increasing incursions Oh
the executive upon the legislative do
main" Senator Oliver, Republican. or
PENNSYLVANIA, told members OF the New
England women's Press Association TO-
day. pleading for reasonable progress
siyism as against reckless radiealism-
constitutionalism against socialism, ana
anarchy
"I am rejecting on no particular par
tv." Senator Oliver added. Each is alike
culpable The abuse began under Pfesi-
dent Roosevelt was continued under
President Taft and the present eXecu-
five has brought it to full maturity IN
forcing his imperious will upon felue-
tant Congress
Senator Oliver reviewed the progress
of the woman suffrage movement in TINS
country. 1t was within the range OF
probability, he said, that women wouid
be granted suffrage throughout the United
States within 10 years. although ne
thought no action would be taken by
Congress upon the pending constitutional
amendment.
"Please understand" he said, that
am not taking sides on this question.
merely mention these things to show that
the public mind is agitated upon 1t. IL
is likely that you women will before iong
have a voice, perhaps the controiiihs
voice in the decision of public questions
and it is with view of directing your
minds along the lines of right thinking
on such questions that venture 10 say d
few words in behalf of a reasonable pro-
gressivism as against reckless radicalism
of constitutionalism as against nltl-
mate socialism and anarchy. The lines
are being drawn between these two con-
tending ideas and the women of the
country NAV shortly be called upon to
take their stand upon one side or the
other
.sTbe constitution is a document filed
with concessions and surrenders Inc
right of making laws the people deieeat-
ed to Congress, the duty OF construins
them to the judiciary, and the aomihis-
trating of them to the executive-ai oi
these rights and duties, however, 10 De
exercised within the limits preserieeo III
the constitution itself
s.It is now proposed by the advocates
of the new Democracy that the people III
a large measure should resume many Oh
the rights thus voluntarily surfenoefeu.
They would have the laws enacted py
nopular vote, instead of by representa-
tives chosen for that purpose, ano' "hat
is of even greater import, they would
have the people constitute themselves the
hyr rpGprVinR the TlGnt
TO oyerturn any judicial decision which
in their monetary anger they see III 10
resent.
But the all important concession III
yolved in the adoption of the constitution
was the surrender by the people them
selves of the right of hasty action. Tney
had the power to alter the law-fnnda-
mental or otherwise--when and how they
pleased; but in adopting the constitu-
ton they surrendered this right so far as
the fundamental law was concerned ana
agreed to amend 1t only in the manner
prescribed in the instrument itself.
sI have great faith,'' he said, lin the
common sense of the American people;
and when any question of importance IS
submitted to the Judgment of that COM
right decision. The great difficulty is so
to arouse the people that they Will exer-
else their common sense. The people
may sometimes lend a listening ear 10
the demagogue and turn their backs on
the sage; but only give him the time
to think and the arguments of the sage
will in the end prevail.
Constitutional limitations-the re-
strictions in the fundamental law OF potn
state and nation which force men to act,
and makers to legislate, within GER
tain prescribed limits-are what compei
the people to think before they act, ana
when they do act to have a due regard
for the rights of each other. The written
constitution protects us alike from the
despot and the mob.
Discard the written constitution, or
emasculate it, or allow it to become
dead thing in your hands, and the day
will surely come when property rights
will be no more regarded-when numeri-
cal might will make right and when they
who have not viii by sheer force of num-
bers take what they want from them that