Evening star., 1935-09-17
ELY AND LOWDEN
VISION AUTOCRACY
See Issue of Attack on Con-
stitution Settled in
1886 Vote.
BY the Associated Press

by InS ASbOCldJeQ EIcSS.
CHICAGO, September 1.-THE
voices Of Joseph B. Ely, a champion
of Jeffersonian democracy, and Frank
o, Lowden, mentioned as a possible
Republican presidential nominee, were
Joined last night in common oelense
of the Constitution.
The former Democratic Governor of
Massachusetts and the erstwhile Re-
publican Governor Of Illinois warned
that revision of the Nations basic
law would pave the way for the es-
tablishment of an autocracy at WASH
ington.
They addressed the Union League
Club of Chicago shortly after approx
mately $50 members had voted to
reiterate It's "four-square stand for
the Constitution. The membership
denounced as unpatriotic any and
all efforts to substitute dictatorship"
and pledged the support of its infiu-
ence and resources Ito maintenance
of the American system Of govern
ment"
Dissenter Explains Vote.
But one dissenting ballot was cast.
That was by Floyd Thompson, former
chief justice Of the Illinois Supreme
Court and once a Democratic aspirant
to the Illinois governorship. He ex-
planned his action thus:
IT do not believe that the States
and Nation are separate sovereignties.
The States are not sovereign. The
people are sovereign. 1t Is a union
Of the people of the United States,
not a union of the States. I feel
that this enunciation of principles
Is partisan and I vote no."
Thompson's statement was greeted
in silence. But the dinner -jacketed
assemblage accorded extended ap-
plause to the remarks OF Ell and
Lowden.
The New Englander asserted it would
make the Federal Government mas
ter of our souls"
The Midwesterner declared it would
give the central Government COM
plete control of the economic life OF
the people everywhere.
They urged a strong defense OF the
Nations basic document on the eve
Of the 148th anniversary of its in
dorsement in addresses before gath
ering at the Union League Club.
See Settlement of Issue.
Both speakers foresaw settlement
of the issue at next years presidential
election.
ITO sustain New Deal policies" Ely
said, the power to regulate agricul-
ture. mining and industry must be
taken from the States and given to
the Federal Government.
This is the complete reverse of the
Jeffersonian theory of government.
1T creates a government engaged
in bringing us all to the will OF the
man who decides just how much cot
ton and wheat shall be raised, how
many yards of cloth shall be manu-
factured, how many hours we shall
work. what shall be paid, and how
we shall spend our money"
He listed the N. r. A, A. A. A,
the Guffey coal and Wheeler Ray
burn holding company bills and the
Bankhead cotton control act as un-
constitutional and claimed that, to
make the measures operative. con-
stitutional authority must be granted
the Federal Government to enact
them.
Lowden stated the magazine Today,
"believed to be the official organ of
the administration" proposed that the
1896 election should be made refer
endum on constitutional amend
ment empowering Congress to regu-
late hours and conditions Of labor,
to establish minimum wages and to
regulate production, industry. busi-
ness, trade and commerce.
Cites Long Struggle.
He added:
IF this amendment should be
adopted. it would substitute for the
union of States an absolute autocracy
at Washington and destroy the very
corner stone of our institutions.
The bill of rights is in jeopardy
II the proposed amendment should
prevail" he said, and with it "prin-
ciples representing thousand years
Of struggle for liberty"
The Illinoisan pointed out that all
amendments save the eighteenth pro-
tected State rights and individual
liberty. Failure of the eighteenth, he
added. should warn Americans not
to present control over their State
affairs to the central Government
again. The American system, he