Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-10
Thus Far, but No Further

Il
ment to the Federal Constitution, which
conferred upon Congress police regulation
mat had been reserved to the States
virginia accepted the nineteenth amend
ment, which deprived the States of their
control over their own suffrage
Both of those amendments are facts ac-
complished. They have been written into
the Constitution as part and parcel of
our fundamental law. and there they will
Il remain Even il any considerable number
II OF people, or even of States believed il de-
Essirable TO undo what has been done, there
#s%ould be not a chance in a thousand of sue
& cess browning their efforts TO undo them
80 then, in this or any future discussions
X or the powers of the Federal government in
Z ycontradistincton from the powers of tho
Y States let it be understood that the past is
i closed, and ii is TO the future that Virginia
and other States are looking
virginia has seen its rights reserved to
IT under the Constitution invaded bv the
! Federal government. 1t accepts the results
and stands by them Loyalty. 1t has gone
thus far, but it will go no further
In the past Virginia has fought some
times alone, sometimes With tho support of
It's sister States of the South Now lead
{ ership and assistance are coming from an
unexpected source. They are coming from
danger OF continued Federal usurpation of
the rights of the States and it has raised
its voice in sirident warning. II has done
more. Through its Legislature In the
form OF joint resolution it has called
upon the several States TO request that Con-
gress assemble convention for the pur-
pose of proposing such amendment. or
Z amendments, having for it's, or their, p,rr-
pose the preservation OF the self-go :crnng
E rights of the States''' 1t would have such
( an amendment more specifically define the
s powers OF the Federal government
Some persons may incline to look with
suspicion upon the proposed amendment.
s lhasmuch as the source of its origin is in
Wisconsin, which has been tainted with
La Folletteism. Bat the fact remains thar
Wisconsin is one or the great clcar-tlinking.
progressive States, and it is apparcii; that
the inauguration OF this movement is ut
least indirectly the product Of that soundly
independent school OF thought which cen
tiers about the University of Wisconsin,
where keen thinking and free speaking arc
Fundamentals
In this prospective battle, in which n
Northern State comes over and ranges itself
beside Virginia and takes the lead iowa rd
defining, under the Constitution. Tho
powers of the Federal government. Virginia
will be found fighting shoulder 10 shoulder
with Wisconsin and all tho other States
ssthat have seen their prorogatiyes vanish nm
4 DER the weight Of the Federal hand. lis
first step will be 10 Join in the Wisconsin
81 call for convention. and the General AS
sembly, when il conyencs, should MOI host
tate in its duty
The increasing Capitalization OF mower
In Washington is !nsidious. No amend
ments are required to give its encrooch-
ments due process oG law. Bonuses nc ,ho
I Wisconsin resolution points out. are erec-
tive means. BY such methods IL is under
mining the safeguarding rights Of Tho
States and making the national govarn-
ment supreme, even as to the minor oo,.iIs
& Of legislation" Meanwhile. tho overhead
expenses and e%travagance OF tho Fndor,,
government assume such staggering nro
portions that it may b. doubted if for overv
I, dollar the State receives in Federal bonrsns
! 1t does not pay more than dollar in Fod.
aral taxation.
BY this and other methods Wasbin.,,,
IS dipping into the reserved powers of tro
3 States, and the flag Of national dor,in,.
lion has been raised as a standard in rrnce
j. OF the self-relant flag OF home rnle m,
q inspiration OF great nation no Iorpo,
& comes from the people, but rather igsnn,
,t,fTom the top by national cdict.'
Tho day OF awakening has arrived
& continues the Wisconsin voice. "and III,
u growing power of the national government
4 must be further curtailed by spccifc co,
Igtitutional amendment clearly defining III.
= powers OF Congress"
That Is sound Americanism, such as in