The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-19
A MOST SINISTER CLOUD

A mOOI SAOOo
 It Is often observed that human beings are much like sheep in their tendency to be easily led, which means, generally, mis- led. It Is recognized that 1t is difficult to lead them toward what Is right, but that they may be led readily toward what is wrong. for, as Virgil says; Smooth is the descent and easy the way" Morally, as well as physically. the descent Is always easier than the ascent.
 Nothing more Is needed than for some one to proclaim loud enough that his prescrip- ton is for the public good, and here they come, the swallowers of every new pill that wears sugar coatl Demagogues make capital of this human weakness. Smith Bxookhart, senator-elect from Iowa, says he will repeal the transportation act to please the farmers and will reorganise the reserve banking board so that the working classes- because, says Brookhart, they deposit the most money in the banks-may manage the banking business of the country, which IS the same as to say that the people who pay the most fares and freight bills should run the railroads. Robert LaFollette, senator from Wisconsin, who labored unceasinglv for Brookhart's election, comes forward with . plan for making tho world better by tying the hands of the United States supreme court He has other ideas of sprogressive" nature, but this Is his chief idea: the court must be made to stop It's interference with tho wishes of Congress, and especially such wishes as are intended for the good of the farmers and the labor ing men. LaFollett4 of Wisconsin, Brook hart of Iowa. Henrik Shipstead of Min nesota and Lynn J. Frazier, the North Da- kota recalled governor and Non-Partisan league leader, arc all of kind, setting out to abolish the injunction in labor disputes and to put tho courts where they will not be able to act promptly and effectively m the enforcement of respect for the lawn
 One may very well recognize that back of this announced program is larger thing even than tho disirs to curry favor with the dissatisfied clements; for there is con- fessed on LaFollstte's part purpose to as- sess the cost of the late war upon capital, and the ffrst step to success in that direc- ton must be to take from capital its equal protection under the law. Some expert mentors arc suggesting an amendment re- pealing the protecting clauses. LaFollette would proceed more broadly by making con- gress supreme over the constitution.
 The vice of this proposal is that it does not end with the weakening of capital and the undermining of credit. but, when the supreme court is nuIlified, there will be no authority oy power left to defend the con stttution, and our whole system will likely fan into ruin. MT. L. |. Winters, the Chi cago economist, whose attention Is given to the subject, has well said:
 Our government Is the first since the
 beginning of the world to recognize that
 the individual is endowed with certain
 inalienable rights, rights which under
 tho constitution arc above the govern-
 meut. It is fact that our government
 has at times attempted to confiscate the
 property of individuals without due pro- cess of law and without just compensa-
 ton. Our government has attempted to
 deprive men of their liberties, and sen
 tace men to death, contrary to the con
 court has stepped in and ended the in-
 vakion. The supreme court Is the only
 safeguard of oul lives. liberty and prop
 erty. Destroy it's power and tyrannical
 majority would at will pass legislation
 which would destroy the rights of
 
 It is proposed, says Mir. Winters, to ex- plode charge under the constitution. The drift in favor of such action, he declares. constitutes tho ''most sinister cloud on our political horison."
 MT. Whtsrs is right, because in . gov erument of conferred and limited powers there arc always arising questions whether those powers have been or arc about to be ozeeeded, and there must be some tribunal or court to give judgment final on the ques- tions, for otherwise there could be no arbi- trament except the sword. The powers are Yecited in the constitution, the supreme court is the interpreter; and, as such Is our only safeguard, as MT. Winters truly says. The constitution was declared by the fathers and 1t remains today the supreme law of the land.
 What LaFollette, Brookhart and company propose now is that Congress, and not the constitution, shall become the supreme law. There should be no difficulty in understand ing what that means, and how great dis aster it's accomplishment would bring upon fbe republic.
 Surely, 1t is time for thoughtful Ameri- 5ans to note the drift, and to discover what to do for the protection of themselves and their country.
 
 OUR SUBSIDIARY INDUSTRIES
 Does the district realize that it has passed I'll of the xwaddlinr clotAes of industry and