Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-24
IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN DEcLA.
RATION PUSHED BY IN
sPlRED DELEGATES.
OPPONENTS FAIL TO
AROUSE DEMOCRATS
St. Louis Convention Fought Shy Of
Subject When Delegation Urges Ad-
verse Declaration of Federal Control
of Railroads-Pleadnss at St. Louis
Excites Mirth Of Those on Inside.
BY Judson c. WelIiver.l

washington, June 24.-The story or
how the republican platform happened
to contain a declaration in favor of
liberalization of all instruments of gov
eminent control over the railroads, and
OF how the democratic platform hap
pened to contain no reference to the is
sue, can at last be told. IT has been
dripping out from high authorities in
both parties for some days.
The republican plank was drafted
first by Senator George Sutherland, of
Utah. 1t was laid before the subcom-
mittee of nine which had been entrust-
ed with making the draft of the plat
form. There had been no preliminary
discussions. in Washington or else
where. Of the ACCESSIBILITY of such
declaration. Some other members of
the subcommittee had had this pro-
nouncement in mind, and there was no
real opposition to it.
There was, however some wide diff
ference of opinion aas to whether the
states rights over interstate commerce
instrumentalities could be abolished by
legislation, without first an amendment
to the constitution. It was the initial
belief of Senator Sutherland that there
was no need of constitutional amend
ment that the whole thing could be
accomplished by statute.
On this point he and Senator Borah.
also member of the subcommittee, had
considerable discussion. Mr.. Borah
was doubtful whether law taking over
the whole regulative authority would
pass muster with the supreme court. He
feared that such a measure would COM
plicate matters anew, and perhaps
cause the supreme court to change the
attitude it has taken in some of the de-
cisions heretofore rendered.
At this point in the constitutional de-
bate between the lawyers, Senator Bo-
rah WaGsworth and Senator Lodge
went to the bottom. Neither of them
claimed to be a great constitutional
lawyer. but they both knew exactly
what they wanted. and insisted Oh say
ing just what they meant.
IF there's any chance that it will re-
quire Il constitutional amendment,
write constitutional amendment into
the plank insisted Senator Wads-
worth. We want to stand on this plank
and to make it mean just what it
says"
Then Senator Lodge picked up the
draft and interlined the words that
committed the party to a constitutional
amendment, if that should ever be nec-
essary. in order to do away with all I'M
certainty.
Men Who Secured Plank.
The real fight for the plank was mado
by Senators Sutherland, Lodge, Borah
N.lc al in,
accord about the general proposition:
details were unimportant to either of
them, except that Wadsworth and
Lodge were insistent on Il declaration
so direct and unqualified that there
/ could never be any uncertainty about
it, They wanted the clause about a
constitutional amendment if necessary
in order to avoid the possibility of a
long period of uncertainty.
Not Il member of the subcommittee
objected to the proposal on principle.
Every one expressed himself as con-
WINGED that the time had come for this
step, and that it ought to be taken in
no uncertain manner. The result was
that the clause pledging constitu-
tional amendment if necessary was in
serted as a guarantee of complete good
faith.
When that plank got into the public
prints it caused a considerable sub
surface hullaballoo. A number of in
sistent gentlemen climbed aboard trains
and started for st. Louisa There, four
or five of them, introducing themselves
as general counsel of railroad compa-
MES, turned up with ardent denuncia-
tons of this outrageous and anarch-
istic proposal of the republican plat
FORM They had been SO foresighted
as even to draw planks denouncing the
republican proposal, which they said
the democrats ought TO insert in their
platform.
These gentlemen applied at head
quarters. They hunted up the men
who were supposed to be tn representa-
tives of President Wilson, and told their
troubles.
Appeal to Democrats.
They were reinforced by some other
people who represented in some cases
interstate commerce law practices, and
in others the old state rights theory
about distribution of powers between
the national and statefgovernments.
All these people were listened to
| ---------- -