The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-01-11
OWEN AssA|Ls
SUPREME COURT
QUESTIONS RIGHT or TRIBUNAL
TO PASS ON LAWS.
WOULD TAKE AWAY POWER
Senator's Attack Uttered at conclu
sion of Speech. by Judge Wanna
maker, Who Cited Case Of the
Adamson Law.

Washington, Jan. SIN n sweeping
and vitriOlic attack on the Supreme
court of the United States, Senator
Robert l.. owen of Oklahoma before
the National Popular Government
league declared it was unparalleled
impudence for the Supreme court t.
declare unconstitutional any act passed
by congress"
Uurging that the court be shorn OF
its power TO override the action OF
congress, Senator Owen declared that
ut such action the courts should 'ipsC
.facto cease TO exist" .........
I, Later, when Senator Owens re
marks were repeated to. him and he
was reminded that his remarks might
cause him to be called before the court
for contempt, Senator Owen said:
II don't believe they will do any,
thing of the sort. If they do subpoena
me they Will start something that will
shake this country to\its foundation
:. Adamson Law Is Issue.
!; The senator's attack on the Supreme
court was uttered at the conclusion of
speech made by Judge Wanamaker
of the Ohio supreme court, who, citing
the case of the Adamson law, said that
a law passed by congress to prevent
a great clash was now being defied by
the railroad interests of the country
while the Supreme court sat in judg.
ment ON the constitutionality of the
law.
ION the one side" said Judge Wana.
maker, 1--WE have 100000 faboring men,
On the other we have S15,000.00 900 in
wealth. Congress passes law, and now
this law is in danger of being over.
ruled"
Judge WanamaEer urged gate.
way amendment" to the Constitution to
facilitate its popular amendment, and
denounced "Our traditional worship OF
the Constitution"
What Progressive Is.
eve have long wOrshiped at the
shrine of the Constitution" the judge
said. what is, is right-this is the
creed of the obstructiOnists and reac-
tionaries; what is, is all wrOng-this is
the creed of the revolutionists; what.
ever is, is right-or wrong, according
as 1t squares with reason-this is the
policy of the true progressiye-witha
small p if you please"
Judge Wanamaker declared also in
favor of releasing several judges from
their benches three months in every
year, that they may keep in touch
with the pulse of the common people"
owen Backs Him Up.
After Judge Wanamaker had con
cluded, Senator Owen took the floor
and vigorously upheld everything said
by the judge, and even went ii great
deal further In excoriatiOn Of the Su.
preIne court.
Senator Owen said that the 531 mem
bers of congress were sworn to defend
and uphold the Constitution and thai
when they passed a law it was the
natural presumption that they had
given due deliberation to the subject
and had weighed its constitutionality
IllCh d SOuIl llluc
of whom five can made a decision to
pass on the law and override the 5udg.
ment of the 531 members of congress is
a piece of impudence," Senator Owen
continued.
. Anticipated institution"
Mr.. Owen declared the Supreme
court was an antlquated institution.
and that it had outliyed its usefulness.
In reference to the Adamson law. he
said that the courts expected action
in the case, no matter what it proved
to be, is a piece Of judicial usurpation
a1d ought not to be tolerated"
At his residence later Senator Owen
said that ne intended to take up the
subject If the Supreme courts juris-
diction by resolution which he would
htfer in the senate this week He said
he had not finally decided on the text
Of tile resolution. and consequently
would not give ii out ut this time.
w r. ii REVIVAL