The Washington times., 1924-10-25
IA FILLET IS
SAFE ON CHIEF
PLEDGES
Most Of Them Within Power
of Executive and ''RIocs"
Favor Others

their officials under the criminal
clause Of the Sherman act II
should be noted that the courts
have upheld this clause In the few
cases where Il has been invoked,
70 Mr.. La Follette'a activities along
this line Wuiid be limited only ~
the capabillty 81 his prosecuting
officers and the extent bf the
alleged evil.
Conservation IL Resources.
Conservation Of the nations nat
ural resources Il largely d matter
81 administrative Interpretation Of
the statute law, as recently has
been clearly shown: 10 here, too,
Mr. La FCllettn should have IFS
win, except that he must depend
upon the rulings Of the courts for
the recovery oe natural wealth al
ready dlssipAted or in1perill0d. on
this courts, also, he ultimately must
depend 70 uphold his reasonable
Investment basis for determining
railroad valuations for rate making
purposes which q La Toilette APP
pointed Interstate Commerce Com
mission surely could institute.
The issuance Of strike injunctions,
the use Of United States forces to
break up strikes or its authority
to limit freedom of speech, press,
or religion, are practically impos-
eible without executive approval ar
indifference.
Conversely the prosecution Of
those who violate the law In inter-
1etttg with such activities depends
largely upon the attitude Of the
Executive. Mr.. La Toilette could
back up his denunciation Of tho Ku
Klux Khan, as, indeed, could any
other In the White House, BY in
strtcting HE police and prosecuting
officers to deal promptly and severe-
" with members who violate the
law.
Can Direct Foreign Policy.
Foreign relations, It may be re-
peated. are almost exclusively In
control Of the President. Mr.. La
Toilette In that position could carry
out his pledge to open negotiations
for revision Of the Versailles treaty
r. make It conform TO the famous
Wilson ''14 points" His success
would Of course, depend upon the
attitude Of other powers and OF the
Senate when his completed work
should be presented TO Il Tor lad
vice and consent
No power could compel Americas
entrance into the League OF Nations
or the World Court over his veto.
Nor could anything compel him TO
use the armed forces OF the United
States, without q declaration Of war,
for the extension OF the American
"Ephefe Of influence" the collection
OF debts, Or even for the "bsneflt
OF the natives"
- chiefly In the hands Of the En-
0cutivo.
Where '18lOcs" FAvoF.
There remain for consideration HIS
pledges to revise the tariff, to re-
peal the Esoh.C ummins act, AMI to
provide farm RELIEF leglslatioh. The
Democrats In Congress-, and some
regular Republicans, certainly will
help him to rsviSe the tariff. Just
40 certainly, unless they experience
q change Of heart, the Democratic
viii help him to amend, IL not repeal
the railway act and to lower rail
rates. Enough members from both
old parties probably would ioin him
as was indicated In the last Con.
gresg, to pass any legislation the
farmers may demand.
The adoption Of g constitutional
amendment limiting the power Of
the Supreme Court IN deciding the
constitutionality Of laws passed by
Congress and approved by the
President must be accounted out
side the bounds Of political prac-
ticability within the next four
years. But even in this delicate
matter there Ii q bare possibility
that Mr.. La Toilette might so far
redeem his promise as to secure
the passage Of resolution Of
submission to the people.
Matter Of Method.
There ID q very considerable
sentiment outside the ranks Of Mr..
La Follette's own followers IN Con-
gress Tor some such regulation,
even old party stalwarts like Sen.
ators Rorah and Tess, Repnhli-
cans, and Senator Owen, Demo.
crat,. having advocated various 10.
stfictive measures. Mr.. La Fol
lette's principal difficulty, probably,
would be in evolving some method
which all the advocates Of regu.
lation could agree upon as worthy
Of submission to the people Of the
States for this confederation and
disposition. ~
Funny thing, politics.