The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-20
CALLS CONSTITUTION
FOE OF BOLSHEVISM
Representative Towner Warns
Of Attacks Being Made by
Radical Elements.
ANARCHY PERIL IN U. S.
Socialists and Reds Plotting
Overthrow of Government,
Says Iowan in House.
spscieI Despatch 70 TIE suN.


bulwark against the rise of Bolshevism
in the United States is the national Con-
stitution and all efforts to weaken 1t are
the work Of radical elements seeking the
overthrow Of the Government, Repre-
sentative Towner (Iowa) warned the
House to-day in an address honoring the
one hundred and thirty-second anniver-
sary OF the signing of the document.
Boishevists, Socialists and other
radicals are using the present unrest
throughout the country as step toward
the destruction OF the Constitution. Mr..
Towner declared in urging that all pa
triotic Americans and members OF Con-
gress warn the people of the dangers Of
the present situation.
Specialization" OF industrials, such as
former Senator ]. Ham Lewis in a Chi
cago address recently claimed President
Wilson favors, means mot only an aban-
donment of the Constitution, but also of
every fundamental principle of Govern
ment that America represents" Mr..
Towner asserted.
1T will be said the thing is impossible
and that the American people will never
consent to such revolutionary scheme"
he said, but IL the Government absorbs
the railroads and other means of trans
portation and the telegraph, telephone
and other means OF communication It can
force upon the people the other steps in
oniscation whether they desire it or not
Bolshevism Here Now.
TN some way the people should be
made to know that the abolition Of con-
stitutional government in America means
the beginning OF anarchy. the Inaugural
ton of chaos. And the danger is not
"a aolA l. NWNa-
pending. We should understand that
Bolshevism Is now an existing institu-
ton In the United States.
The Communist party, recently or
ganized, according to statement issued
by it's secretary belongs to the same
group of international Socialists as the
Bolshevikl of Russia. He declares the
party will take part in the 1920 cam
paign and will have but one plank in
Its platform, the domination of the
working class and the abolition of cap
italism'
"The difficulty Is that this class of
men does not believe In Government of
the people. They rail at the tyranny
Of the majority and seek to substitute
the tyranny of the minority. They de-
nounce the autocracy of Government
and demand the autocracy OF a faction.
II Is not the peoples rule. 1t Is class
rule they seek to establish.
The question of the maintenance OF
our constitutional Government should be
made the supreme issue of the time.
Beside that issue all others are small
and Insignificant. In defence OF the Con-
stituton all party lines should disap-
pear. The Constitution is the nation.
Without II We should be something diff
ferent from the United States OF Amer
. 10 ha lati h iro
our very existence is based.
Now Is the Time to Act.
"If ever there was a time when 1t
Was unwise to listen to the clamor of
unjusti1able criticism, II is now. IL
ever there was period when we should
repei attacks upon the
Constitution from whatever quarter they
may come. 1t is now. II ever there eX-
listed conditions which require that the
people stand firm against any surrender
of their constitutional powers such con-
ditions exist now. Never until the pres
ept time has there been such serious
attacks upon our Constitution. Through
out our past history the people have
deeply reverenced and loved IT,
The Socialists frankly admit thev
would destroy our Constitution and our
entire present system of government. A.
leading Socialist journal ridicules the
term Patriot fathers as applied to the
trainers of the Constitution. 1t brands
them as 'grafters, and charges they
were more concerned with their selfish
interests than with the interest of the
people In framing the Constitution.
Socialists are principally interested
In the abolition of private property
and every extension OF the powers of
government by which private property
Is taken meets with their favor.
THE Constitution provides that no
private property can be taken by the
Government without just compensation
to the owners. If the Government
should purchase or condemn the rail-
roads ii would mean increasing our ma
tional debt 100000, 900, 900, with an in
,rease In our annual taxes Of $1,000
D00,0 900 for interest.
But this-is only part OF the Socfalis-
Tic programme. 1t is also proposed that
the Government take over the canals
and all shipping. both foreign and do
nestle, as we'll as all the telegraph.
telephone and other means of corn
The mines also are to be
with the mild Socialists the pro-
yramme outlined stops there. But with
he radicals II goes on to the absorb
lion and Matchmaking of the farms
he factories and all 'other productive
facilities; the distribution and dispo- |
sition OF all products in short. the !
adjustment OF all private property, is |
by the Government and the
ssta blishment of a sociallzed State IN i
which the Government shall own all /
he property snd control and regulate |