Evening star., 1917-01-07
LEAGUE DECLARES
FOR D. c. SUFFRAGE
National Popular Government
Body Would Give Vote
to Capital.
FOR PURE ELECTION BILL

were adopted last night at the closing
session of the conference at the New
Ebbitt House of the National Popular
Government League. which has been in
session for the past two days. Reso-
lutions also were adopted indorsing the
corrupt practices act now pending in
the United States Senate. without
emasculation and with teeth in it," and
authorizing the league to at once un-
dertake campaign by letter and tele-
gram urging Congress to pass the bill
at this session.
A number of speakers outlined the
ideals of popular government at last
nights session. the principal address of
the evening being by Judge r. NJ Wana-
maker. a member of the supreme court
of Ohio. who said some persons may
wonder what business a judge of any
court, particularly the supreme court Of
a state has to do with popular govern
ment league"
Views Of Judge Wanamaker.
Judge Wanamaker said he has his own
notions about that, and he added:
IT can frankly say to you do not pro-
pose to be Robinson Crusoe on legal
island while I am a member of the
supreme court Of Ohio. If had my way
l would take every Judge from the bench
and insist upon his having few months
personal mingling and association with
the folks back home to find out what the
people thought of Mr.. Judge and his JUS
tice."
Judge Wanamaker traced the history
Of the founding of the government and
the barriers to progressive movements
declaring that IAN Interpretation. has
been placed upon various constitutional
powers and provisions by the federal
courts that was never delegated>by the
federal fathers to any court"
Other Speakers and Themes.
Senator Owen, president of the
league. who presided. also spoke of
to themselves by the members of the
Supreme Court of the United States"
Charles Edward Russell, writer and
editor. who was to have spoken during
the afternoon session. described last
night how the Farmers Non-Polftical
League had been organized IN North
Dakota to combat legislation inimical
to farmers interest and had succeeded
IN ejAfting many state oflciais OF both
parties whom II indorseds Another un-
~o hst hs nsSa9 .sia 1 she ds
sire OF Nexicans for popular govern
ment. and DR.. J. Tanger OF the State
College, Pennsylvania, and Edmond B.
Osborne OF Newark. N. j.. also delivered
addresses.
Senator Owen made q dramatic at
tack on the public situation created by
the result Of the so-called Adamson
"eight-hour law" alluding to the fact
law to take effect January 1. here are
100000 organized railroad men. sitting
on one side. waiting, and on the other
are the railroad heads of the United
States. representing millions of dollars.
refusing to obey that law until they
hear from at least five out of a group
Of nine men on the Supreme Court Of
the United States"
Discusses Work Of Forefathers.
Judge Wanamaker said. in part:
MANY Of US SO long worshiped at
the shrine of our constitutional fore
fathers that 1t seems like political sac
rilege to question what they said or
what they did. They and their work
have been the subject Of SO much eulo-
gy from statesmen and scholars of both
orient and occident that some have
suggested when we question the su.
perior virtues Of their work we are lay
ing impious hands on the Ark of the
Covenant
Indeed, we do a great injustice to the
fathers in having assumed that they in
tended to establish such thing as Ameri-
can democracy. At least they did not call
1t that and no one has any right to call
1t that as 1t was originally conceived and
collaborated by that convention.
True, they introduced that historic
document with the words. We. the peo-
ple,' but We. the people had about as
much potentiality in that document and
in the American government at that time
document signed by the Three Tailors Of
Tooley Street
"And then, after all that, what about
the judiciary? Did the people have any
judiciary? Not one bit-not even
whisper-from a nisi prius Judge to the
Supreme Court Judges. appointed for
life. or during good behavior. ratified
Of Congress, but by the aristocratic
branch, the Senate, so that the judicial
body that had the last word in our
government was the farthest removed
from popular responsibility and rep
| resentation.
An "Insurmountable Barrier"
barriers to the forward movement has
been the Interpretation placed upon
various constitutional powers and pro-
visions by the federal courts su-
pervisory power that was never dele
gated by the federal fathers to any
court.
Upon the contrary, when upon four
distinct occasions that question was
before the federal convention even
that distinctively conservative body
| refused to create any supervising coun-
! eli to veto or nullify congressional
acts. Notwithstanding this assertion
and assumption of power by the fed
| eral judiciary. the restraints placed
upon forward-looking. progressive leg
isiation cannot be measured merely by
| the decided cases. The automatic prec-
edental effect In suppressing and pre-
| h,rYn nff ~.