Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-07-07
:-:-JoB PRINTING AT THE REVIEW OFFICE.
LABOR GIVES
PUBLICITY TO
USURPED POWER

Agitation the past month under the
auspices of organized labor has given
wide publicity to the usurped power
of courts.
This question has been discussed
before, but never has it been present
ed to so many citizens in such con-
crete and effective form.
More people now know that court
usurpation started in 1903 when John
Marshall, chief justice of the United
States supreme court, announced in
the Marbury case that 'it is emphati-
cally the province and duty of the
judicial department to say what the
law is"
By itself the Marbury case amount
ed to nothing. 1t involved the APP
pointment to a minor office and re-
called differences between John
Adams, retiring president, who be-
lieved in a centralized government
and Thomas jefferson, incoming presi-
dent, who believed in the people.
What made the Marbury case fam
Gus was Chief Justice Marshalls
statement that the court has the pow
er to review acts of congress.
Marshall made this decision despite
the fact that on four separate occas-
ions the constitutional convention, in
adopting the present federal consti-
tuition, refused to give this power to
the supreme court. The last attempt
to give this power to the court pro-
vided that when congress passed an
act the president and the supreme
court would consider the proposed law
n oh Int -
gress.
The majority of the convention
delegates were so fearful of court
usurpation that they refused to even
permit the court to make recommen-
dations. They said the court has no
business making laws.
Marshall's audacity created an in
stitution that has proven superior to
the other two branches of govern
ment.
The president can veto acts of con-
gress and congress can override the
veto by two-thirds vote, but the SUI
preme court is answerable to no one.
These nine men are appointed for life.
1t is an autocracy within republican
form of government and by its system
of majority decisions it is possible for
five judges to dictate the peoples
welfare and subordinate congress and
the chief executive.
John Marshall is dead, but his brain
and his purpose go marching on. The
few lines that he injected into the
Marbury decision, 119 years ago, has
evolved judicial despot that has
overthrow the legislative and exc
cutive branches of government. These
must bow to the whims and moods of
nine irresponsible men whose only
authority is daring man who repu-
dated earlier views when he became
chief justice.
Trade unionists and patriotic citi-
zens. generally can study the history
of the supreme court with profit to
themselves and to their country. This
study will unfold an amazing tale of
how audacious men drug the peoples
Will, fitch their rights and block their
purpose.
Court usurpation will henceforth be
one of the great public questions in
this country.
Organized labor is committed to
constitutional changes that will re-
store to the people the governmental
system our forefathers intended.
Let every wage worker be inteIlec-
tually equipped for the coming battle.
Court usurpation cannot withstand
the resistless tide of an intelligent
public opinion.
Let the workers arm themselves
with facts and drag this judicial des-
potlsm into the glare of white heat
publicity.