Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-09-24
THE OPPOSITE VIEW

(The Herald will, from time to time,
print press views other than those
held by this office. The following is
from the pen of Granville Trace, edi-
tor of the Dodgeville Sun, and one of
the cleverest newspaper men in the
state.)
How We Look At 1t
AS an Independent Progressive
paper, politically, the Sun-Republic
tries to tell the truth about its own
party and faction the same as about
others. For this reason we can not
bring ourselves to promise that the
possible election of La Toilette means
early prosperity for the United States.
We believe it would be merely
small start in that direction.
X X
! But while we do not entirely agree
with La Toilette and can not believe
| that his election will work miracles,
we earnestly hope he will win. That
we should be condemned to another
four years of the present rottenness
would be an awful fate. And besides,
| if all the evils predicted by the G. 0.
P. should come upon us as result of
electing Bob, things surely couldn't
be worse than they are now, not for
long. He is a strong man, thoroly in
formed and a lover of his country
rather than of those who are bleed
ing it white. We can not honestly say
as much for either of the two other
candidates.
AS we see it, public ownership of
the railroads is regarded as one of
the main La Toilette platform planks,
and we wish to record at this time our
opinion that if it should be enacted
into law, the beiefit would be slight
for a long time to come-possibly a
detriment rather than a benefit. We
believe, however, that it is to come in
time and that after long period mat
tiers will so adjust themselves on that
basis that there will be a certain
amount of improvement. That this is
the time for the experiment we doubt.
AT the same time, we do not believe
that the election of La Toilette would
result in the government taking over
the railroads. 1t takes more than a
president to bring about such big
thing as that. La Toilette, personally,
mentions only eventual" government
ownership.
y
The other leading La Toilette doc
trine, it seems to us, is that the veto
power should be taken away from
the supreme court. In this we deeply
sympathize with LaFollette. 1t seems
to us amazing that our highest trib-
unal has escaped regulation so long
as it has, and we would be glad in
deed if some check could be placed
upon it's usurpations. Nevertheless,
common honesty compels us to say
that we can not see that turning the
courts ultimate power over to con-
gress would be any improvement. We
can see how it might be, but it looks
doubtful, and we can also see that
such a change might be highly dan
gerous. But as in the case of govern
ment ownership of railroads, the cleo
ton of La Toilette would not, it
seems, be very likely to bring it about. |
**
While the supreme court, by it's de-
cision that no law can stand unless
it seems to the court to be reasonable, |
has practically placed itself above the
constitution, yet that is not a reason
for allowing congress to do the same. |
Since some body of men must act as
interpreters of this fundamental law,
would it not be more reasonable to |
improve the system now in use, rather |
than to make violent change to one |
which is entirely untried in America? |
Why not substitute six to three de-
cisions-or seven to two-for the five |
to four plan which has worked so /
poorly? If that proved no better, then |
there would still be plenty of time to |
apply the radical remedy.
Neither would his election guaran-
tee us an honest government, for
crooks and self-seekers are already /
preparing to flock around him, and no
man can absolutely control their vast
power in politics and big business.
But in this regard we do believe there
would be a great improvement. Bob
would certainly tear out a lot of rot
ten timber, and it would be at least
a number of years before the billion
aire criminals could regain anything
like their present power. This would
be a great encouragement to the peo-
pie to support good men for office
and for decent politicians to stand up
for honesty in politics. It would put
new hope and spirit into all the
friends of integrity in government.
Also, and already, most of those
who are working out the large prob
lens of our national life are for him.
His support includes a majority of the
men and women who devote their lives
to the welfare of others. A La Toilette
victory would, by its moral influence,
be a help to them in their work
An OniniO0 of La FO1Iatfa