Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-10-03

The following able article from one
of our most valued exchanges so
plainly and simply expresses Senator
La Follette's ideas upon the supreme
court and the unlimited power it has
usurped and at present exercises,
should be read by everybody, and his
plan for clipping its wings should
meet with universal approval.
In the early months Of the present
year, while the American people was
being so sadly humiliated by the dis
closure of hideous corruption among
the very highest officials Of the Gov
ernment, it was also revealed to US
how secret agents were engaged to
"investigate" certain men for the
purpose Of getting the goods on
them" Senator La Toilette was one
of those whom certain interests had
investigated" La Toilette was
heartily hated and honestly feared.
He had the reputation of being a
merciless enemy Of corruption in gov
ernmental affairs, and his reputation
was based on record-breaking poll
tical activity of almost half cen
tury. The investigators" Of the old
Senator discovered nothing worth
mentioning. His public life was an
open book. There was not trace of
corruption. Had La Toilette ever ac-
cepted a bribe, his ten thousand en-
emies would have discovered and
published it long ago. Had his many
years Of political activity made him
millionaire, his reputation would not
be what it is. Had La Toilette suf-
fered others to do his thinking and
waited for orders from above as how
to vote, his enemies would be very
few. If La Toilette had not made
himself the best informed legislator
in Congress, the man who is able to
quote facts and figures when others
indulge in empty oratory, he would
not be the best hated man in Wash
ington. If Senator La Toilette were
not so absolutely fearless in attack
ing the crook and in championing un-
popular truths, he would not today
be the abomination of the privileged
interests and the hope Of the unpriv-
ileged underdog.
The enormous popular enthusiasm
aroused by the candidacy of La Fol
lete shows plainly enough that the
things he stands for are the things
longed for by the common people. But
this glorious enthusiasm, as we. read
in a British publication for Septem-
Der, marks the vindication of one Of
the greatest figures in contemporary
American life, a man abused, vilified,
and all but ruined for his uncom-
promising pacifism during the war"
Not even Macdonald, the present
British Prime Minister, says the
writer, suffered in England what La
Toilette suffered in this country dur
ing that period of madness. Hence
"it is interesting and impressive to
note the elements making up this new
crystallization of popular forces; first
in number and Importance are the
labor unions, notably the four great
Railroad Brotherhoods; next are the
farmers, as organized in cooperative
societies and the Farmer-Labor
Party; then comes the Socialist
Party, which has made common cause
with the new movement; lastly come
the great mass of Independent vot-
ers, revolving Republicans and Dem
ocrats, the liberal and radical intelli
gentsia, social workers, students, etc,
etc, 1t is formidable grouping, rep
resenting much Of the constituency,
spirit, and idealism that have made
the British Labor Party great"