The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-20

On reflection, however, everybody
began to see point.
La Toilette does look backward
for his inspiration. He belives in
the good old days. Every one OF
his ideas goes back to the good old
days.
In the good old days, a hundred
years ago, we refused to join the
European Holy Alliance to help
preserve peace In Europe. La Fol.
lette refused to JOIN the League Of
Nations to help preserve peace IN
Europe.
In the good old days we had com
petition (so they say) in business.
Ia Toilette is out and out for com.
petition in business. He absolutely
refuses to get reconciled to com.
binations" and trusts" ana 'mono-
polies."
II seven gasoline filling stations
sell gasoline at the same price in the
same town on the same day La Fol.
lette smells a Combination" and
q Conspiracy" and breathes fire.
He does not seem to be able really
to grasp the idea that II those seven
k00OlAAlO LAuAAAB SSoSAOAA0 S0AA 6S~SSSAtsS
at seven different prices, then the
six with the highest prices would
get no business and be ruined and
in fact the seventh would probably
be. ruined, too, through selling too
low. These considerations have al
most ceased to affect La Follette's
thinking. He is not only In favor OF
competition. It does him no injus-
tice to say that he 10 q fanatic Tor
competition.
Is For Free Speech.
In the good old days the Govern
ment kept its hand off peoples
tongues. La Toilette is for free
speech.
In the good old days we Ameri
cans believed in the theory Of per
sonal individual freedom-for white
men, at any rate. La FollettC
thereupon in our day put through
the present Seaman's law, which al
lows seamen to leave their ships II
port and to go to work on Other
ships without getting Jailed fol-
putiny or the like.
In the good old days we did moi
have prohibition. La Toilette voted
to submit the prohibition amend
meat to the people; because hi
thinks the people ought to have the
chance to vote on anything; but he
opposed the Volstead law and hi
never has given the prohibition ides
any slightest encouragement.
La. Toilette also attacks the Fed
eral judiciary. He attacks the Su
preme Court. That is the wildest
thing he does.
THE judiciary of the United
States is the subtle corps of sapperl
and MINERS constantly working tt
undermine the foundations of oul
constitutional fabric"
Who said that? It was not Ii
Toilette.
Il was Thomas jefferson, thir,
President Of the United States.
In Jefferson's day it was not set
tied that the Supreme Court coul,
declare laws unconstitutional. It
power to do so was an innovation
1t was a development. 1t was /
change. La Toilette is against it.
Back to the Fathers.
Just how La Toilette would settl,
the dispute If a State legislator,
enacted one sort Of thing and tn,
Federal Congress enacted the op
posite sort Of thing and the either
had to choose between two diamet
really opposite laws, each claiming
his obedience, is a problem OF
which La Toilette does not sheC
much light. At present the problem
Is solved by q Lewiston of the United
States Supreme Court: How Ii
Toilette would solve it remains a bi
OF a mystery. 1t was not solved ii
the early days Of the republic
Then the whole State Of Pennsyl
vania at one time simply refused Il
obey the United States Suprem,
Court. La Toilette is not Mortified
by those days.
La Toilette looks back. He look.
back to the founding fathers --anC
back OF them. He is the creates
pillar Of salt in Washington.
Why, then, does he look radical
Because the effort to bring things
back that have passed away is JUS
as narrowing to the victims as tn,
effort to bring things in that never
were.
Any motion is radical, whether
1t is motion forward or motion
backward.
Most motion by La Toilette is in
its essence backward. It is forward
only in details. 1t is forward only
in devices.
Highways should be owned by
the public. That is the old prin
ciple. Railroads are highways.
Therefore. perhapsperhaps - rail.
roads should be publicly owned. La
Toilette thinks so-With some EN-.
phasis on the perhaps"
He talks violently. He moves
cautiously In expanding the powers
and activities OF Government in
business.
That is precisely where he parts
company with the wives of new
radical Senator'S and with their hVs.
bands.
La Toilette has not given his
name to any Of the new bills for
taking the Government into the
buying ond selling Of farm pred
ucts.
Note that fact! 1t is a basic fact
in the approaching campaign.
The La Toilette movement In
Wisconsin has lahored resplendnntly
to develop Wisconsin agriculture
How has It done 1t? One illustra
ton will show.
The Wisconsin cheese makers were
downcast. Did the Wisconsin gov
eminent thereupon go into tn,
cheese making business? Not a