The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-04-25
ARE WE FREE?
r HINKrNd citizens eanno, ,


eneroachment OF tho federal govern
mcnt upon the rights OF the states,
and the personal rights Of the citizens
who compose the states. There is a
constant tendency OF the federal
courts to set aside the constitutional
restrictions and Justify the ends at.
tained. regardless OF the authority
and legality % the means.
The procedure Of the federal Judi
ciai and executive depay ay,ments sets
an example that is being Followed by
officers OF the states: and the result
Is a ta,tered constitution and q feder.
alization OF the governmental power
that letters the states and their eiti.
gems In increasinsly stronger bonds.
The most vital right for the pre-.
servaticn OF liberty Is the guarantee
OF the fourth amendment against
search or seizure without, formal war
rant. issued upon probable cause.
supported by sworn testimony. dcsis.
mating the place to be searched. the
reason for the search. the crime
charged and the nature Of the Illicit
possessions which are expected to be
seized. 49,.
But not q day passes Without viel-
alton Of This 4 provision by Jealous
agents OF the federal government. In
vestigating alleged breaches Of the
prohibition Law, the narcotic law. the
sedition law. or heaven knows what
federal law. And the police power OF
the state. and the state courts. lend
their aid to federal agents to vindL
cate this unconstitutional usurpa-
tion: this arrayinG Of might against
the rish, tina, be constitution guar.
antees. -..
We do not argue against Law en-.
forcement. but we argue for the en-
forcement Of the law by orderly pro-
cess. We maintain that the citisens
Of the state have. under the constitu.
tion, sole power In regulating state
affairs: that Il was never intended by
the trainers OF the constitution that
the federal government. in time OF
peace. should have the thousandth
part OF the latitude In direction OF In.
ternai affairs that Il Is exercising to-
day.
To ansly.e the usSrpation fully. to
show from every angle, and especial.
iy in the matter Of federal tax-gath-
ering. the steady loss In state control
and the Overwhelming gain In feder-
al domination OF the past ten years.
would open q field too wide TO be dis
cusssd In one brief article.
But the danger Is here. We have
unrealisingly swung In a few brief
years toward unlimited federal auth.
ority. and away from the constitution
al Limitations which had been the
bulwark Of liberty for more than las
years.
The change came so gradually that
It has attracted little notice; but the
effects are now beginning to irk upon
n multitude and here and there bring
Ing forth an outcry from leaders Of
public thought.
The situation is one that should
have some attention from every
thinking citizen. II Is OF transcendant
importance to every citizen TO deter.
mine whether the basic idea OF this
editorial 10 true or false; whether the
danger exists or whether We, see a
shadow and imagine II IL q cropping.
terrible octopus seeking to throttle !
the fundamental freedom OF Ameri-
can institutions.
Eternal vigilance is still the price
Of liberty, and We believe We sense |
enough OF the dangerous condition |
that Is fastening itself upon our gov
ernment, 70 Justify us In declaring
that vigilsnt investigation and studi-
Gus attention to political causes and
remedies is the duty OF every good
and the sooner each applies
himself or herself. the better for the
future welfare OF the nation.