Evening star., 1934-02-19
Constitution Democratic Party
Urged on Leaderless Minority
Theory Contemplates Union of Repub'
licans With Roosevelt Policy-Rebels
to Curb SOCiaIiStiC Trend.

it means the end Of the dual system
of sovereignty. It means the abolition
Of State autonomy and ultimately city
autonomy. A strong centralized au-
thority Is a Hamiltonian not a Jeffer-
sonian concept OF government.
But there are Democrats who still
believe In the doctrine Of States rights
and in the principles underlying our
Federal Constitution. They do not
relish confiscation of property arbi-
trarily by the Federal Government nor
do they like to see State lines ignored
as a national industrial recovery act
boldly assumes control Of intrastate as
well as interstate transactions. The
Federal authority has grown so op-
pressive that under the incidental i'm
plication of the words Interstate COM
merce" and despite long series of de-
cisions to the contrary. the Federal
Government today undertakes to say
that human services are commodities
In interstate commerce and that all
business can be regulated under the
interstate commerce" clause or under
power derived from the isolated fact
that the Federal Government operates
the mail
State Power Usurped.
The police power was originally a
State function. Today it is theoret-
ically in the State constitutions
but actually 1t has been usurped by
the Federal authority in dozens Of
different ways
Maybe the American people wish to
abolish State government and local
autonomy. Maybe they are ready to di-
vide the United States into four or five
regional republics with sectional inter-
ests. for this will be the inevitable result
OF a strong Federal bureaucracy which
undertakes to solve sectional problems
by log-rolling in an already unwieldly
Legislature in Washington. Maybe the
American people want the" new deal
perpetuated by new State laws that
synchronize the Federal and State
constitutions. But it will hardly be
argued by fair protagonists that the
American people knew in November,
1882, any such fundamental questions
were involved when they voted their
protests against the Hoover regime In
an outburst Of political rage which
swept into power a Democratic Presi-
dent by the biggest majority of all
times.
Since March. 1888, the new deal has
been plainly revealed. There can be
no question now of its meaning or sig
nificance, and If there is the skep-
tics should read again Mr.. Roosevelt's
remarkable address at the outset of
the present Congress. remarkable for
its courage. its frankness, its lucidity
and its bold leadership
The President called for a separa-
ton or cleavage. He challenged all
those who disagreed with him to leave
the fold and, presumably, carry the
battle to the people. He was right.
His political science Is as logical as
s his philosophy and sense of fair
play.
But do those who disagree with
the Presidents creed as disclosed in
his message Of last month to Con-
gress have the will to carry their
fight to the people7
Constitutional Party.
The spotlight should be turned first
on the traditional Democrats who do
not believe in the Rooseveltian poll
cies. They are the men who owe it
to themselves and to the country to
speak their thoughts and to begin
preparation for the day when leader
ship may descend upon them as the
only group that can bring us out of
the danger zones to which our pres
ent fiscal policy inevitably Is lead
ing us.
The time has come for the forma-
ton in America Of the Constitution
Democratic Party. II should be COM
posed Of all Democrats in the North
and South. East and West. who be-
lieve In the Jefersonian doctrine of
the Constitution.
The Republican party was never
able to win the South. A Constitu-
ton Democratic party would have
immediate assets in the South. The
regular Republican party Of the
North-and do not mean the lead
ers, but the voters-would find much
In the Constitution party to attract
them. Some 5000. 600 persons voted
against Mr.. Roosevelt in 1882. which
presents nucleus for the Republican
receivership to which I have referred
above. For the Constitution party
can begin with the assets of the Re-
publican liquidation-it should never
accept discredited Republican leaders,
but should welcome the rank and file
who have for generations stood stall
wartly behind the Constitution. It
should welcome men like Senator
Vandenberg Of Michigan, Senator
Capper Of Kansas. Senator Schall Of
Minnesota and others like them in
the House who are truly friends Of
government for the many and not O
few.