The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-04-27
BIG MEETING
OF HOME FOLKS


| BURLINGTON, Apr. z.-sWhfle
under our system Of government it IL
permissible to question the Wisdom
Eof our laws, question or discussion
of the supremacy Of the law can newer
I'be tolerated" was one Of the sent
Iences which brought loud applause At
the speech which J. F. Deems, candf
date for governor made to a big meet
ing his home folks here last eve
ming. The entire speech is said to be
the keynote of the ideas about the
duties Of those elected as executives
lof states, which becomes virile part
of the campaign OF Deems for nomi-
nation and election. He spoke for
itruer, sturdier and more forefus
Americanism, taught in the schools
and elsewhere. and more profound
respect for liberty under the law and
not outside the law"
/ After affirming that history proves
that it is vital TO government that
some representative body be vested
| with power to compel men to refrain
from things detrimental to the COM
munity or inflicting injury on the indi-
vidual. Deems said:
Failure to enforce the law TO that
extent is plain betrayal Of trust and
invites anarchy, and beyond that linn.
lie lies the danger OF paternalism which
is an easy avenue to tyranny. Our
laws should be flexible only within
the best interests of the community.
and beyond that point should be as
!unyielding as steel.
Far above any selfish interests lies
that great matter of the supremacy
of the law. 1t is vital that every In
dividual be guaranteed the Utmost
liberty of conscience and the broad
est opportunity for individual develop
r1ent consistent with proper safe
guarding of the community's inter.
ests."
In the beginning Of his speech.
Deems said his faith in the future OF
our country is not shaken. but no
thoughtful man can view conditions
Of today without serious apprehension
if not alarm. He continued:
Organizations innumerabie and m
many walks of life are clamOring for
release from the ordinary, every day
dt,ties inseparable from human exist
ence. There are strikes and rumors
OF strikes, and organized, studied. Pre-
me,iitated ineflciency prevails. About
the only policy extant seems to be q
fixed policy or determination not to
work.
"Let it be understood that what ap-
niles to the individual applies TO |
groups of individuals-that the thing |
that may not be done by the individual
10 the injury Of society may not be
done by groups Of individuals wheth-
er representing capital. labor, com
merce, or any other interest
.The doctrine that those disputes
between capital and labor which tn
fIict hardship and suffering upon the
public can not be adjusted by legal
process is utterly untenable and I'M
American, and if it's truth be admit
ed. we admit that we are mo longer
self governing people. II 1t is true
hat our laws and our courts are not
,5enuate for such cases, they must be
made adequate
"For the immediate present" Deems
laid toward the end Of his speech. "as
see it the supreme need is an early
.eturn to the old fashioned christian
Nv. industry and thrift. Natures laws
re in1mutable She lays heavy pen
,Itv on idleness which rots the very
zones of its victims. Serious minded
ny, ua,.st look with deep concern on